192 



N. Ord. SOLANACE.E. 

 Tribe Datureee. 



Genus Datura,* Linn. Dunal in DO. Prod., xiii, sect. 1, pp. 

 538-546. Species 22, natives chiefly of the tropics in either 

 hemisphere. 



192. Datura Stramonium, f Linn.,Sp. PL, ed. I, p. 179 (1753). 

 Thorn-apple. Stramonium. 



Figures. Woodville, t. 74; Hayne, iv, t. 7; Steph. & Ch., t. 6; Nees, 

 t. 193 ; Bigelow, t. 1 (D. Tatula) ; Berg & Sch., t. 20 d ; Curt., Fl. 

 Lond., fasc. 6; Syme, E. B., vi, t. 935. 



Description. A coarse weedy annual, reaching over 3 feet in 

 height. Root tapering, white. Stem erect, green, thick, suc- 

 culent, nearly solid, cylindrical, dividing at a short distance 

 from the ground into 2 or 3 very spreading branches, which each 

 again dichotomise more than once, the whole forming a large 

 bushy herb. Leaves placed singly on one side of each bifurcation 

 of the stem, the stout, cylindrical, pale green, tapering petiole 

 appearing to continue the branch and the truly axillary buds remain- 

 ing but little developed, very unequal in size, the lowest and largest 

 often 8 or 9 inches long, ovate, rather flaccid, the margin undulated 

 and deeply indented with large irregular incisions forming unequal 

 spreading teeth, the base unequal, with one side decurrent along 

 the top of the petiole for a short distance, the apex acuminate, nearly 

 or quite smooth, dull green, paler beneath, the young ones slightly 



* Datura, a 16th century name, Latinised from the Persian and Arabic 

 names for D. fastuosa. 



f" Stramonia, or Sir ammonium, was the name of Datura Metel, L., at Venice in 

 the middle of the 16th century, where it was cultivated; and the plant is figured 

 under that title by Tragus and Fuchsius. The origin of the name is not 

 evident, but may perhaps be an Italianised contraction of the Greek vrpvicvov 

 paviicbv used by Dioscorides for Atropa Belladonna, and, according to Columna 

 (Pbytobasanos, 1592, pp. 46-52), for D. Stramonium also, which is beautifully 

 figured (p. 47) by him. D. Stramonium seems to have been a later introduc- 

 tion into Europe than D. Metel ; but as it rapidly spread and became a common 

 plant the name of the latter was transferred to it. 



