Something nasty...

[chickenofthewoods]

That I found whilst out foraging.

 

[Matthew.Passmore]

Thorn Apple Datura stramonium I think, quite nasty.

 

[zorro]

Not seen one of those before?

 

[chickenofthewoods]

It's not a UK native but does come in via seed mixes apparently. Flowering and fruiting tends to happen during hot summers and the seeds have a high germination rate (!) so not something you'd want self seeding on your allotment.

http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/organicweeds/weed_information/weed.php?id=82

I'd only ever seen it in the pages of books before so this was a nice (well sort of) surprise find. I'm hoping to go back and get some plant matter specimens from it to section & photograph but I will be careful doing that as it's a particularly nasty plant to handle.

 

[EdS]

been looking for some seed to add to the poison plant part of the garden.


Jimson weed (or Thorn apple as it also know), one of the main ingredients in Haitian zombie powder along with Cane toad and puffer fish if Wade Davis's samples were correct

 

[zorro]

It's not a UK native but does come in via seed mixes apparently. Flowering and fruiting tends to happen during hot summers and the seeds have a high germination rate (!) so not something you'd want self seeding on your allotment.

http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/organicweeds/weed_information/weed.php?id=82

I'd only ever seen it in the pages of books before so this was a nice (well sort of) surprise find. I'm hoping to go back and get some plant matter specimens from it to section & photograph but I will be careful doing that as it's a particularly nasty plant to handle.

Had me scratching my head for a while, going through my trusty field guide to wild flowers of great britain, not a mention anywhere!

 

[EdS]

Had me scratching my head for a while, going through my trusty field guide to wild flowers of great britain, not a mention anywhere!

Collins Field Guide to Wild Flowers of GB and Northern Europe - Thorn Apple page 206

 

[zorro]

Collins Field Guide to Wild Flowers of GB and Northern Europe - Thorn Apple page 206

Readers Digest Field Guide to the Wild Flowers of Britain..............nothing.

Fancy a swap?

 

[sam_acw]

It is used in the "Earth's Children" series of books as a strong painkiller/sedative and also in some rituals if I remember rightly. Not saying it is safe for any use at all.
I guess it is one of those plants where there is a line between poison and medicine.

 

[chickenofthewoods]

I've got it in 'Alien Plants of the British Isles' by EJ Clement and MC Foster from the Botanical Society of the British Isles series (and there's a line drawing of it on the front cover).

I never cease to be amazed at what people are willing to try though

http://www.erowid.org/plants/datura/datura_basics.shtml

(my thanks to Xylaria for the link)

 

[Ruvio]

I'm reasonably informed that serious druggies chew on it because it stops you feeling your limbs

not recommended

 

[Mirius]

Oooh I have that in my garden, I wondered what it was

 

[cheapeats]

A local story during the American Revolution was a sqaud of British soldiers were near starving and ate the thornapple and were capttured roosting in a tree and making bird noises.

 

[QDanT]

been looking for some seed to add to the poison plant part of the garden.

Hi EdS, we've grown it every year for over 20 years since we found one growing out in the wild.You can have some seeds no problem.We're near Skipton if you fancy a brew or pm your address and I'll post you some -- cheers Danny

[/IMG]

 

[andywinkk]

Poison plant part of the garden,,,that sounds cool not good if you have kids though