Introduction
Datura stramonium is also known as Jimson weed or Devil’s snare. It is an annual or a herbaceous perennial plant belongs to Nightshade family. The name Datura comes from the Arabic Dhatura, which symbolize plant in Arab, whereas Stramonium comes from the Latin struma, meaning “swollen”. Apart from medicinal importance it is also used as ritual value. All the species of Datura are poisonous. Flowers and seeds are also found on plant and are also poisonous and contain poison like tropane alkaloids atropine, hyoscyamine, and scopolamine. It is also known as witches’ weeds because of its property like deadly nightshade & henbane.
Common Names of Jimsonweed (Datura stramonium)
Datura is known by many names like stink weed, mad apple, thorn apple stramonium, dhatura tatula and many more. You may get a surprise by the fact that the Datura is known by different names in different languages and are listed below.
English Name- Thorn apple, Devil’s trumpet, Metel
Hindi Name- Sada Dhatura
Tamil Name- Ummattangani/ Vella- Ummathai
Telugu Name- Ummetta
Bengal Name- Dhattura
Gujarati name – Dhattura
Marathi Name-Dhattura
Kannada name- Unmatta, Dhattura
Malayalam Name- Unmatta, Dhattura
Arabic name – Datur
Persian name – Tatur
Classification of Jimsonweed (Datura stramonium)
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Solanales
Family: Solanaceae
Genus: Datura
Species: D. stramonium
Characteristic Feature of Jimsonweed (Datura stramonium)
- It is a herbaceous perennial plant
- It is foul in smell
- It is erect and freely branching herb
- The roots are also found and are long, thick, fibrous & white
- The stems of the plant are stout, erect, leafy, smooth and is of pale yellow-green color
- Stems are branched and each branch has a leaf and a flower
- The leaves are long, soft, smooth toothed
- The length of the leaves is 3 to 8 inches, i.e. 8 – 20 cm
- The leaves are of two colors respectively upper surface is dark green, whereas bottom surface is light green colored.
- The leaves of Datura have a bitter & nauseating taste
- The flowers of Datura are long and funnel shaped, and of white or pale violet color
- Seeds are also present, which are egg shaped and are about 1 to 3 inches, i.e. (3–8 cm) in diameter
Climate and Distribution
It is grown in spring and summer and requires hot, dry climate. It also requires rich soil to grow. Datura stramonium has originated in Mexico (North America), but has now naturalized in different parts of the world because of its medicinal value and importance.
Uses of Jimsonweed (Datura stramonium)
Datura can be significantly used in a number of ways, but one has to take some precautions while using it as it is very poisonous that can kill you or harm you.
Miscellanous
- It is used as Poison
- It acts as an insect repellent
Useful for Hair Fall
- The juice of Datura plant is used for hair fall treatment
Medical Benefits
- It is used as flying Ointment
- Used as smoke because it burns easily
- Used to treat breathing problems
- Used for asthma treatment as well
- Leaves of Datura are useful for treatment of pain
- Useful for Bone setting
- Useful for treating fistulas and abscesses
- Useful for headaches and earaches
- Used to relieve arthritis
- Used for treatment of Heart Problem
Side effects of Datura
- It is a poisonous plant hence once taking it after doctors consultation
- It can be used for murders and suicides
- It increases the heartbeat, which leads to cardiac arrest
- It is harmful for eyes
- It affects the nervous system
- It can cause amnesia
- Ingesting Datura may increase violent behavior, because of a chemical substance called anticholinergic
- Blurred vision, nausea, giddiness, confusion, rapid pulse are some common side effects of Datura
After studying the blog one can clearly know about Datura, its distribution, usefulness and side effects.
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