Angel's-Trumpets

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Angel's-Trumpets
• Angels'-trumpets
• Longspine Thorn-apple
• false castor-oil
• fierce thorn-apple
• large thorn-apple
• long-spine thorn-apple
• long-spur thorn-apple

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is placed in the order Solanales and the family Solanaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Datura.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse presence across various regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its range extends to include Great Britain. Moving into Middle Europe, it can be found within the territories of Germany as well as Czechia and Slovakia. Its distribution continues into Southwestern Europe, where it is documented in France. Additionally, the species is located in the Mediterranean region on the island of Sardegna.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Datura ferox is characterized by its broad adaptability across diverse altitudinal gradients, allowing it to inhabit a wide variety of landscapes. It is commonly found in environments ranging from sea level up to significant heights, with a minimum elevation of 0 m AMSL. While it can persist in lowlands, it shows a particular prevalence in mid-altitude regions, maintaining a mean elevation of approximately 1000 m AMSL. The species demonstrates remarkable resilience to varying environmental pressures, as evidenced by its ability to reach an impressive maximum elevation of 3500 m AMSL. This expansive vertical distribution suggests that the plant is capable of thriving in both tropical lowland habitats and more temperate or montane ecological zones.

Elevational range max:

3500 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Datura ferox is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning it completes its entire developmental process—from germination to seed production—within a single growing season. As a therophyte, the plant survives the unfavorable periods of its environment primarily in the form of seeds, which remain dormant until conditions are optimal for growth. This life form allows it to rapidly exploit available resources during its active phase, ensuring that it can successfully reproduce and disperse its progeny before the onset of seasonal changes that would otherwise terminate its vegetative growth.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Datura ferox is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically functioning as a self-supporting plant rather than a climber, liana, or vine. It is a terrestrial species, existing neither as an aquatic, semiaquatic, nor an epiphyte (whether holoepiphyte, hemiepiphyte, or otherwise), and it maintains an independent lifestyle without acting as a parasite. The plant exhibits a stature that typically ranges from a minimum height of 0.2 m to a maximum height of 1.5 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.5 m

Plant height min:

0.2 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Datura ferox is characterized by its reliance on the C3 photosynthetic pathway, a metabolic process typical of many solanaceous species that involves the direct fixation of carbon dioxide through the Calvin cycle. The plant's vegetative structure, which supports its metabolic functions, features leaves with highly consistent dimensions, maintaining a steady leaf width of 10 cm (ranging from a minimum of 10 cm to a maximum of 10 cm). The leaf length exhibits greater variability to accommodate different stages of growth or environmental conditions, with lengths spanning from a minimum of 8 cm to a maximum of 19.5 cm. This morphological variation in leaf surface area directly influences the plant's capacity for light interception and gas exchange within its C3 framework.

Leaf length max:

19.5 cm

Leaf length min:

8 cm

Leaf width mean:

10 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Datura ferox is characterized by the development of a capsule-type fruit, which reaches an average length of 5 cm and an average width of 3 cm. This fruit is dehiscent, meaning it splits open at maturity to release its seeds. The seeds produced are relatively uniform in size, with a mean width of 4 mm (ranging from a minimum of 4 mm to a maximum of 4 mm) and a mean mass of approximately 0.014935 g, with individual seed masses varying between a minimum of 0.01387 g and a maximum of 0.016 g. Regarding the movement of progeny, the plant utilizes a zoochorous dispersal syndrome, specifically employing endozoochory, where seeds are dispersed through the internal passage of animals.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

endozoochorous

Fruit length mean:

5 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Fruit width mean:

3 cm

Seed mass max:

0.016 g

Seed mass mean:

0.014935 g

Seed mass min:

0.01387 g

Seed width mean:

4 mm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Datura ferox has 1 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 seed.

Seed

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association
3. Veterinary and human toxicology

Chemicals

Datura ferox has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include scopolamine, hyoscyamine.

scopolamine

1. Natural toxins
2. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association
3. Veterinary and human toxicology

hyoscyamine

1. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association
2. Veterinary and human toxicology

Preparations

Datura ferox has 2 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Seeds, aqueous extracts from the seeds.

Seeds

1. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association
2. Veterinary and human toxicology

Aqueous extracts from the seeds

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology