NIGHTSHADE FAMILY 



(Solanacea) 



Herbs, shrubs or occasionally trees, usually rank-seen I eel, 

 with alternate leaves, no stipules and gamopetalous flowers 

 usually 5-parted, stamens as many as the corolla lobes and 

 inserted on the tube. 



ToScACHE (Datura metelbides, DC.). Flowers fragrant, 

 white, often tinged with violet, trumpet-shaped, 6 to 9 inches 

 long and sometimes 6* inches across when fully expanded; 

 calyx tubular, some 3 inches long, tipped with sharp teeth. 

 Leaves dark green, coarse. A striking plant, 1 to 3 feet high, 

 forming a clump, the showy flowers wilting after noon; bloom- 

 ing from May until October,throughout Southern California, 

 east to Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and Texas, and into Mexico. 



Toluache (to'loo-ah'cha) is the Indian name for this hand- 

 some Datura, which has played a notable part in aboriginal 

 life because of its virulent, narcotic properties. An infusion 

 of the leaves or root has the effect of producing hallucinations, 

 stupefaction or frenzy, and it formerly was employed by medi- 

 cine men in ceremonial rites. Its resemblance to the Eastern 

 Jimson-weed (introduced about dwellings) is considerable. 

 187 



