Jimson Weed, Loco Weed, Devil’s Snare, Devil’s Trumpet, Jamestown Weed, Stinkweed, Pricklyburr, Devil’s Cucumber, Hell’s Bells, ETC…

Datura stramonium

duh-TOO-ruh  stra-MON-ee-um

Synonyms of Datura stramonium (35) (Updated on 12-26-23): Datura bernhardii Lundstr. (1914), Datura bertolonii Parl. ex Guss. (1843), Datura cabanesii P.Fourn. (1934), Datura capensis Bernh. (1833), Datura ferocissima Cabanès & P.Fourn. (1934), Datura ferox Nees (1834)(nom. illeg.), Datura hybrida Ten. (1829), Datura inermis Juss. ex Jacq. (1777), Datura laevis L.f. (1782)(nom. superfl.), Datura loricata Sieber ex Bernh. (1833), Datura lurida Salisb. (1796), Datura microcarpa Godr. (1872 publ. 1873), Datura muricata Godr. (1872 publ. 1873)(nom. illeg.), Datura parviflora Salisb. (1796), Datura praecox Godr. (1872 publ. 1873), Datura pseudostramonium Sieber ex Bernh. (1833), Datura stramonium var. canescens Wall. (1824), Datura stramonium var. chalybaea W.D.J.Koch (1837), Datura stramonium f. godronii (Danert) Geerinck & Walravens (1998), Datura stramonium var. gordonii Danert (1954), Datura stramonium f. inermis (Juss. ex Jacq.) Hupke (1938), Datura stramonium var. inermis (Juss. ex Jacq.) C.E.Lundstr. (1914), Datura stramonium inermis (Juss. ex Jacq.) L.Plate (1905), Datura stramonium subsp. tatula (L.) Nyman (1881), Datura stramonium f. tatula (L.) B.Boivin (1966), Datura stramonium var. tatula (L.) Torr. (1824), Datura tatula L. (1762), Stramonium vulgare Moench (1794)(nom. superfl.), Stramonium vulgatum Gaertn. (1791), Datura wallichii Dunal (1852), Stramonium foetidum Scop. (1771), Stramonium globosum Bubani (1897), Stramonium laeve Moench (1794)(nom. superfl.), Stramonium spinosum Lam. (1779),Stramonium tatula (L.) Moench (1794)

Datura stramonium L. is the accepted name for the Jimson Weed. The genus and species were named and described by Carl Linnaeus in Species Plantarum in 1753.

As of 12-26-23 when this page was last updated, Plants of the World Online lists 14 accepted species in the Datura genus. They are members of the plant family Solanaceae Family with 101 genera. Those numbers could change as updates are made on POWO.

Datura stramonium has quite an extensive range. The map above from Plants of the World Online show where it is a native species in green and where it has been introduced in purple. I used the POWO map to show other countries where the species has been introduced. Plants of the World Online gets most of its maps for North America from Flora of North America for families on their site. However, FNA doesn’t include the plant family Solanaceae at the moment but it is coming soon. Then POWO will update their maps and we will get a clearer picture… 

The map on the USDA Plants Database shows Datura stramonium present in all but 1 state in the continental United States and most of Canada. Even though the species may be present, many states have data for only one to a few counties, and the data could be from old herbarium samples. 

The map on iNaturalist shows where members have made observations. Anyone can join and it is a great website to confirm and share your observations. The maps on iNaturalist are continually updated as members post new observations.

THERE ARE SEVERAL LINKS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE FOR FURTHER READING AND TO HELP WITH A BETTER POSITIVE ID.

Datura stramonium is a wickedly neat plant. It has many common names it may share with other species including Jimson Weed, Loco Weed, Devil’s Snare, Devil’s Trumpet, Thorn Apple, Tolguacha, Jamestown Weed, Stinkweed, Pricklyburr, Devil’s Cucumber, Hell’s Bells, and others. It grows in quite a large area here on the farm on the east pond bank in the front pasture.

When I moved back to the family farm in west-central Missouri in February 2013, I brought with me seeds of Datura innoxia (Moon Flower) and Datura metel (Purple Datura) from Mississippi. I am not sure how or when the discussion came up about the Jimson Weeds, but I told dad I had seeds to plant of the Moon Flower and Purple Datura which were related. Dad, who was 82 at the time, looked at me like I was nuts. Unfortunately, I decided not to plant the seeds. I hadn’t remembered the Jimson Weeds growing on the farm when I left in 1987 so I had no clue they had become an issue.

So, being a plantaholic, I first admired the flowers on the Jimson Weed. The problem was that there were A LOT of them. It wasn’t just 1-3 plants, there were HUNDREDS. Dad was not a young man and he had asked me to return to the farm to help with mom and the farm. He and I worked on fences together and we cut down a few trees.

Basically, dad was ready and needed to rest and it was time for me to take the reins. Dad had been mowing the weeds in the pastures and around the pond so I continued. He said the Jimson weeds were easily pulled up. So, I mowed, pulled, sprayed, and dug not only the Jimson Weeds but also the Bull Thistles (Cirsium vulgare). Both were invasive and both were neat plants with beautiful flowers but enough was enough. Neither species should be neglected and you need to do what you can to keep them in check. While Jimson Weed seeds may not be as viable for as many years as thistle seeds (30-50 years), as many plants as were here do put out a lot of seeds. It eventually becomes a never-ending battle.

The seed pods of Datura stramonium are similar to those of the Datura innoxia (Moon Flower) I had grown in Mississippi. The stems are a purple color and the leaves are dark green and similar to other Datura species. For the most part, Datura species have many similar characteristics to one another including their toxicity and foul smell of their leaves and stems.

Datura stramonium is a member of the plant family Solanaceae (family of nightshades). It is native to Texas through Central America and the Caribbean and has been introduced to most other parts of the world. It is scattered through most of Missouri and most of North America. The species is identified by its large flowers, spiked fruit, toothed leaves, nearly smooth stems, and an unpleasant odor. The plants contain highly toxic tropane alkaloids which are a nervous system blocking agent.

If left unmaintained, many Datura species will become quite invasive. While many species of Datura are used in making medicine for various conditions, it is not one you would want to use as an herbal remedy unless you know absolutely what you are doing. Datura species are hallucinogenic and can cause serious adverse reactions…

Plants grow 3-5 feet tall and can be found in barnyards, pastures, fields, and so on. They prefer full sun but will tolerate part sun as well. They like rich, fertile soil with high nitrogen content.

Datura stramonium is a multi-branched plant with green to purple stems. The stems are mostly hairless (glabrous) but can be sparsely to moderately hairy toward the top. These hairs are curled and non-glandular.

The leaves grow up to 8” long and 6” across, are ovate, narrowly-ovate, to ovate-cordate in outline, have 2-3 deep lobes on each side of the leaf, are slightly wavy, and may have secondary lobes and/or teeth as well. The leaves may be slightly hairy ) and pubescent when young, but become mostly hairless (glabrous) to completely so with age. The leaves stink… 

Single flowers appear at the tops of branches as well as the axils of branched nodes. 

The flowers are amazing and have a sweet scent that opens at night and attracts moths which aid in pollination.

The funnelform flowers are up to 5” long and 2” across when fully open, the corollas being white, light purple, pale to dark purplish tinged, with the throat having darker purple veins. The corollas have 5 lobes with pointed tips and are surrounded by tubular calyx that are 5-angled or narrowly winged (usually reflexed at fruiting) along the sides, and are finely hairy. The stamens have fairly long light yellow to white filaments. Ovaries have 2 carpels but appear to be 4-locular.

The flowering period is from May through October in my neck of the woods in west-central Missouri (or at least when they get zapped by an “F”. The flowers only last for one day and open around midnight and close by noon unless it is a cloudy day. 

Pollinated flowers are replaced by a round or oblong spiny fruit that is about 1 1/2” long and 1” across.

Once brown, the seed capsule is divided into 4 segments and splits open to release the fairly large dark brown to black seeds.

Dried seed pods are filled to the top with seeds. The seeds start falling out once the pods start to split.

The seeds don’t go very far which is why colonies can get very large.

Flowers are pollinated by Sphinx Moths that feed on the nectar. Various species of beetles also feed on the nectar and eat the pollen. Several species of flea beetles and caterpillars of Pink-Spotted Hawk Moth feed on the foliage. Luckily, livestock and other mammals avoid the leaves because of their foul oder, otherwise, they could be fatal. Leaves and seeds contain a variety of lethal toxic alkaloids…

The family Solanaceae has many genera of plants that have similar toxicity issues, such as Brugmansia (Angel Trumpet), and you should avoid handling these plants without gloves or at least wash them very thoroughly after handling them. As I mentioned earlier, I did grow Datura innoxia and Datura metel while living in Mississippi. I also grew Brugmansia, the Angel Trumpet, and really enjoyed them but I always washed my hands thoroughly after handling them.

The summer of 2023 was very hot and dry. I did some wildflower hunting early in the spring and didn’t hardly go into the hayfield and pasture until September. Most of the wildflowers that are normally blooming during the summer simply fizzled out. I did take a few photos of the Jimson Weed along the pond bank in 2023 which you can view below the links for further reading…

The goal for 2024 is to take more and better photos of the Jimson weed…

I have enjoyed photographing and learning about the many wildflowers growing on the family farm and in other areas. I have grown over 500 different plants and identified over 250 species of wildflowers (most have pages listed on the right side of the blog). I am not an expert, botanist, or horticulturalist. I just like growing, photographing, and writing about my experience. I rely on several websites for ID and a horticulturalist I contact if I cannot figure them out. Wildflowers can be somewhat variable from location to location, so sometimes it gets a bit confusing. If you see I have made an error, please let me know so I can correct what I have written.

I hope you found this page useful and be sure to check the links below for more information. They were written by experts and provide much more information. If you can, I would appreciate it if you would click on the “Like” below and leave a comment. It helps us bloggers stay motivated. You can also send an email to me at thebelmontrooster@yahoo.com. I would enjoy hearing from you.

FOR FURTHER READING:
PLANTS OF THE WORLD ONLINE (GENUS/SPECIES)
INTERNATIONAL PLANT NAMES INDEX (GENUS/SPECIES)
TROPICOS (GENUS/SPECIES)
FLORA OF MISSOURI (GENUS/SPECIES)
WORLD FLORA ONLINE (GENUS/SPECIES)
WIKIPEDIA (GENUS/SPECIES)
USDA PLANTS DATABASE
DAVE’S GARDEN
MISSOURI PLANTS
MSU-MIDWEST WEEDS AND WILDFLOWERS
iNATURALIST
WILDFLOWER SEARCH
ILLINOIS WILDFLOWERS
MINNESOTA WILDFLOWERS
KANSAS WILDFLOWERS AND GRASSES
PFAF (PLANTS FOR A FUTURE)
GO BOTANY
FLORA FINDER
THE POISON GARDEN WEBSITE

NOTE: The data (figures, maps, accepted names, etc.) may not match on these websites. It depends on when and how they make updates and when their sources make updates. Some websites have hundreds and even many thousands of species to keep up with. Accepted scientific names change periodically and it can be hard to keep with as well. Some of the links may use a name that is a synonym on other sites. In my opinion, Plants of the World Online by Kew is one of the most reliable and up-to-date plant databases and they make updates regularly. I make updates “at least” once a year and when I write new pages or add new photos but I do get behind. We are all a work in progress. 🙂

A FEW MORE PHOTOS…