angel's-trumpet

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• angel's-trumpet
• white angel's-trumpet

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Pseudodatura suaveolens
• Datura gardneri
• Datura suaveolens
• Datura suaveolens var. macrocalyx

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Solanales and the family Solanaceae, it is classified under the genus Brugmansia. Specifically, this species is identified as Brugmansia suaveolens.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution across parts of Northern Africa and the Macaronesian islands. In the African continent, its presence is documented within the territories of Morocco and Tunisia. Moving toward the Atlantic Ocean, the species can be found inhabiting the Azores. It also extends its range to the Canary Islands. Finally, its distribution includes the island of Madeira within the Macaronesian archipelago.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Brugmansia suaveolenz is characterized by a broad altitudinal distribution, ranging from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 1600 m AMSL. This species demonstrates significant adaptability to human-altered environments, frequently occurring within Área Antrópica (anthropic areas), where it thrives in disturbed landscapes or proximity to human settlements. Its ability to inhabit these modified habitats across a diverse elevational gradient suggests a resilient ecological strategy that allows it to persist in both lowland and montane settings influenced by anthropogenic activity.

Elevational range max:

1600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Life history

The life history of Brugmansia suaveolenes is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons and establish a robust presence in its habitat. As a phanerophyte, its regenerative buds are located high above the ground on woody stems, a life form classification that supports its growth into a large, shrubby, or tree-like structure. This phanerophyte growth habit ensures that the plant can maintain structural integrity and continue its reproductive cycles over an extended lifespan, transitioning through various stages of maturity while maintaining its woody architecture.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Brugmansia suaveolens is characterized by a woody, self-supporting growth form, typically manifesting as a large shrub or small tree. As an independent organism, it does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte, maintaining a strictly terrestrial existence rather than occupying aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic niches. The plant exhibits a robust, woody structure that allows it to stand upright without the need for climbing mechanisms, as it is neither a liana nor a vine. In terms of stature, it reaches a plant height ranging from a minimum of 1.5 meters to a maximum of 5 meters, providing a significant vertical presence in its natural habitat.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

5 m

Plant height min:

1.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Brugmansia suaveolens is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which facilitates carbon fixation through the direct carboxylation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate by the enzyme RuBisCO. The vegetative structure is supported by leaves of varying dimensions, exhibiting an ovate leaf form. These leaves demonstrate significant morphological plasticity, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 5 cm to a maximum of 30 cm. The lateral expansion of the foliage is equally variable, with widths spanning from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 12 cm, maintaining a mean leaf width of approximately 7.5 cm.

Leaf form :

ovate

Leaf length max:

30 cm

Leaf length min:

5 cm

Leaf width max:

12 cm

Leaf width mean:

7.5 cm

Leaf width min:

3 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Brugmansia suaveolens is characterized by its bisexual sexual reproduction system, which relies on biotic pollination mechanisms, specifically through insects. The plant produces large, striking red flowers that measure between 20 cm and 25 cm in length, with a maximum width of 13 cm. The flowering season is extensive and variable, beginning as early as April and continuing through to December. To ensure genetic diversity, self-fertilization is absent in this species. Following successful pollination, the plant develops fruit categorized as a berry, which is indehiscent. These fruits are highly prolific, containing more than 1000 seeds per fruit, with an average individual seed mass of 0.012 g. The dispersal of these seeds follows an unspecialized syndrome, though it also exhibits anthropochorous tendencies, meaning dispersal is often influenced by human activity.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flower colour :

red

Flower length max:

25 cm

Flower length min:

20 cm

Flower width max:

13 cm

Flowering time :

Apr

Flowering time :

Dec

Fruit type :

berry

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed mass mean:

0.012 g

Seeds_per_fruit :

>1000

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Brugmansia suaveolens has 2 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, flower.

Leaf

1. Natural product research
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Flower

1. Biological research for nursing

Chemicals

Brugmansia suaveolens has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 3-PHENYL-LACTIC ACID, Aliphatics, Flavonoids, Kaempferol 3-O-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside, Silver nanoparticles.

3-PHENYL-LACTIC ACID

1. Natural product research

Aliphatics

1. Nutrients

Flavonoids

1. Nutrients

Kaempferol 3-O-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside

1. Natural product research

Silver nanoparticles

1. World journal of microbiology & biotechnology

Steroids

1. Nutrients

Terpenoids

1. Nutrients

Activities

Brugmansia suaveolens has 7 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Anticoagulant, Antifungal.

Analgesic

1. Nutrients
2. Biological research for nursing

Antimicrobial

1. World journal of microbiology & biotechnology
2. Nutrients

Antioxidant

1. World journal of microbiology & biotechnology
2. Nutrients

Anticoagulant

1. Nutrients

Antifungal

1. World journal of microbiology & biotechnology

Antispasmodic

1. Nutrients

Antitumor

1. Nutrients

Conditions

Brugmansia suaveolens has 5 reported investigations on conditions identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include analgesic, anticoagulant, antioxidant, antispasmodic, pain.

Analgesic

1. Nutrients

Anticoagulant

1. Nutrients

Antioxidant

1. Nutrients

Antispasmodic

1. Nutrients

Pain

1. Biological research for nursing

Preparations

Brugmansia suaveolens has 4 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include infusion, leaves, methanol extract of leaves of Datura suaveolens, methanolic extracts.

Infusion

1. Biological research for nursing

Leaves

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Methanol extract of leaves of datura suaveolens

1. Natural product research

Methanolic extracts

1. World journal of microbiology & biotechnology