N. O. SOLAN ACEiE. 913 



871. D. fastuosa, Linn, h.f.b.i., iv. 242 ; Roxb. 



188. 



Vern. : — Kala dhatura (Beng., Dec, and Hind.) ; Jouz- 

 masleasvad (Arab.); Taturahe-siyah (Pers.); Karu-umate (Tarn.) ; 

 Nalla-ummetta (Tel.) ; Pad-daing-plm, padayinkhatta (Burm.)- 



Habitat : — A weed throughout India, in waste places. 



An annual herb. Stem l-2ft. high, stout, somewhat zigzag, 

 rather succulent, polished and shining, but slightly rough, with 

 very minute scattered hairs, divaricately branched, marked 

 with scars of fallen leaves. Leaves alternate, 3-6in., triangular 

 ovate, rounded and generally very unequal- sided at base, acute, 

 entire or more often with a few large coarse acute teeth or lobes, 

 apparently glabrous, but with a very minute mealy pubescence 

 on both sides, dull glaucous-green above, paler beneath, veins 

 pellucid. Petiole l-2in. Flower white or rarely purple, very 

 large, on very short stout stalk from the node, but not axillary 

 erect. Calyx 3in., very minutely adpressed, pubescent, seg- 

 ments Jin., triangular, acuminate acute. Corolla-tube over Tin., 

 gradually widening upwards, limb 4in. diam., lobes with the 

 plait or midrib terminating in a short, linear, acute tail, pube- 

 scent on back. Stamens about as long as Corolla-tube, anthers 

 nearly fin. Ovary papillose, style over Bin. Capsule nod- 

 ding, on curved pedicel, l|in., supported base on reflexed base 

 of Calyx, flesh v green, covered with numerous, scattered, short, 

 straight, sharp prickles. Seeds very numerous, closely packed, 

 nearly smooth, pale brown (Trimen). 



Uses : — The seeds constitute a favourite poison for criminal 

 purposes. The seeds and their preparations are generally 

 employed by the Indian road poisoners not for the purpose 

 of destroying life, but for stupefying their victims with the 

 view of committing theft. Death may follow as a consequence 

 of over-dose (Kanai Lai De). (See Chevers' Jurisprudence). 

 They are also used to render liquor more intoxicating, being 

 burned upon charcoal with vessels inverted to catch the smoke. 

 The seeds are also used in the form of a powder for the same 

 purpose, being more powerful in this form. When full of 

 smoke the liquor is thrown into the vessel and the mouth 



115 



