DATURAS — SAFFORD. 



557 



crude, but sufficiently accurate for its identification. Both white- 

 flowered and purple-flowered forms of this species occur in Mexico as 

 well as in the United States, the purple flowered usually called 

 "Datura tatula" but not differing specifically from the white-flow- 

 ered, to which they bear the same relation as the colored forms of the 

 oriental Datura metcl to the typical white form. The species varies 

 also in the form of its capsules. These differ from the nodding cap- 

 sules of Datura metel and its allies in being erect and in regularly de- 

 hiscing when mature (see pi. 5) ; they are spiny in the typical form, 

 but unarmed in the variety which has been called Datura inermis (fig. 

 8). It seems strange that botanists should have attributed the white- 

 flowered form to Europe and the colored form of the same species to 

 America. Linnaeus in establishing the species declared it to be 

 American. Observations on growing 

 plants show that both the white-flowered 

 and the purple-flowered forms may bear 

 either smooth or prickly capsules, and 

 that of the antagonistic color characters 

 the purple is the dominant and the white- 

 flowered the recessive form. (See Journ. 

 Heredity 12:184. 1921.) 



ORIGIN OF THE NAME JAMESTOWN 

 WEED. 



The narcotic properties of Datura stra- 

 monium were known to our own southern 

 Indians as well as to the Mexicans. Her- 

 nandez calls attention to the fact that its 

 fruit causes insanity if eaten incautiously. 

 That this is true is shown b}^ the follow- 

 ing anecdote taken from Robert Bev- 

 erly's History and Present State of Virginia, in his account 

 the wild fruits of the country." It appears that the soldiers 

 sent to Jamestown to quell the uprising known as Bacon's Rebellion 

 (1676) gathered young plants of this species and cooked it as a pot 

 herb, possibly mistaking it, owing to the shape of its leaves, for a 

 solanaceous pot herb or perhaps learning of its narcotic effects from 

 the Indians of that region, who used it as a ceremonial intoxicant. 

 His account is as follows : 



The James-Town Weed (which resembles the Thorny Apple of Peru, and I 

 take it to be the Plant so call'd) is supposed to be one of the greatest Coolers in 

 the World. This being an early Plant, was gather'd very young for a boil'd 

 salad, by some of the Soldiers sent thither, to pacifie the troubles of Bacon; 

 and some of them eat plentifully of it, the Effect of which was a very pleasant 

 Comedy; for they turn'd natural Fools upon it for several Days: One would 

 blow up a Feather in the Air ; another wou'd dart Straws at it with much Fury ; 

 and another stark naked was sitting up in a Corner, like a Monkey, grinning 



Fig. 8. — Spiny and smooth cap- 

 sules of Jamestown weed, Da- 

 tura stramonium L. 



Of 



