Devil's snare

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Jamestown weed
• common thorn-apple
• jimsonweed
• Thorn-Apple
• Fireweed
• false castor-oil
• moonflower
• purple thorn-apple

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Datura stramonium f. godronii
• Datura stramonium var. inermis
• Datura stramonium var. tatula
• Datura stramonium subsp. tatula
• Datura stramonium f. tatula
• Stramonium tatula
• Datura wallichii
• Datura bertolonii
• Datura bernhardii
• Datura cabanesii
• Datura capensis
• Datura parviflora
• Datura stramonium var. chalybaea
• Datura stramonium var. godronii
• Datura tatula
• Stramonium foetidum
• Stramonium globosum
• Datura pseudostramonium
• Datura stramonium var. canescens
• Stramonium spinosum
• Stramonium vulgatum
• Datura stramonium f. inermis
• Datura stramonium inermis
• Datura praecox
• Datura microcarpa
• Datura loricata
• Datura lurida
• Datura ferocissima
• Datura hybrida
• Datura inermis

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Solanales, it is classified under the family Solanaceae. Ultimately, Datura stramonium is identified by its specific genus, Datura.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Datura stramonium, exhibits a specific distribution pattern across Northern Europe. In the region of Denmark, it can be found growing in various habitats. It is also documented throughout Great Britain, spreading across the landscape. The species extends its presence to Ireland, occupying suitable ecological niches. Finally, its geographical range includes the northern territories of Norway and Sweden.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Datura stramonium is characterized by a broad altitudinal adaptability, spanning an elevational range from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum of 3300 m AMSL. This species frequently colonizes anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica), thriving in disturbed environments where human activity has altered the natural landscape. To survive in these varied ecological niches, the plant utilizes chemical defense mechanisms, as indicated by the presence of defensive traits that protect it from herbivory.

Defense :

yes

Elevational range max:

3300 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Life history

The life history of Datura stramonium is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning it completes its entire biological progression from germination to seed production within a single growing season. As a therophyte, the plant survives the unfavorable seasons through the production of hardy seeds rather than persistent vegetative structures above ground, allowing it to rapidly colonize disturbed habitats. Its physiological strategy involves a deciduous nature, where the foliage is shed once the reproductive phase is complete or when environmental conditions become non-conducive to growth. This combination of an annual lifespan and a therophytic life form ensures that the species can effectively exploit seasonal resources and ensure survival through dormant seed banks.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Datura stramonium is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. As a terrestrial and independent species, it does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte, nor does it inhabit aquatic or semiaquatic environments. The plant is self-supporting rather than acting as a liana or vine. In terms of stature, it exhibits significant variability in height, ranging from a minimum of 0.15 m to a maximum of 2 m, with a mean plant height of approximately 1.16875 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

2 m

Plant height mean:

1.16875 m

Plant height min:

0.15 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Datura stramonium is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway and a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy, lacking the ability to fix nitrogen or exhibit succulence. Its leaf morphology is primarily elliptic in form, displaying significant dimensional variability with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 2.5 cm to a maximum of 35 cm. The width of the leaves also fluctuates considerably, spanning from a minimum of 1.5 cm to a maximum of 22 cm, resulting in a mean leaf width of 11.5 cm. On average, the leaves possess a surface area of approximately 147.39875 cm², and the plant maintains a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 283.03 cm²/g, reflecting its specific metabolic and structural investment in leaf tissue.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

35 cm

Leaf length min:

2.5 cm

Leaf size mean:

147.39875 cm²

Leaf width max:

22 cm

Leaf width mean:

11.5 cm

Leaf width min:

1.5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

283.03 cm²/g

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Datura stramonium is primarily a sexual process characterized by bisexual flowers that facilitate both biotic pollination and self-fertilization. The flowering period typically spans from April to October, featuring prominent white flowers that range in length from 7 cm to 9.5 cm. These flowers rely on a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically attracting insects such as butterflies to ensure successful fertilization. Following pollination, the plant develops fleshy capsules as its fruit type. These capsules vary in size, with a mean length of 2.125 cm and width of 1.65 cm, though they can reach a maximum length of 4.5 cm and a maximum width of 4 cm. Each fruit is highly prolific, containing more than 1,000 seeds. The seeds themselves are small and uniform, with a mean length of 4 mm, a mean width of 2.5 mm, and a mean volume of 9.2 mm³. In terms of mass, the seeds range from a minimum of 0.00506 g to a maximum of 0.0326 g, with an overall mean mass of approximately 0.009025326 g. Dispersal is categorized as unspecialized, meaning the plant does not rely on highly specific mechanisms for the movement of its seeds. Notably, asexual reproduction is absent in this species.

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Flower colour :

white

Flower length max:

9.5 cm

Flower length min:

7 cm

Flowering time :

Apr

Flowering time :

Oct

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length max:

4.5 cm

Fruit length mean:

2.125 cm

Fruit length min:

2.5 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Fruit width max:

4 cm

Fruit width mean:

1.65 cm

Fruit width min:

2 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

butterfly

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length mean:

4 mm

Seed mass max:

0.0326 g

Seed mass mean:

0.009025326 g

Seed mass min:

0.00506 g

Seed volume max:

9.2 mm³

Seed width mean:

2.5 mm

Seeds_per_fruit :

>1000

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Datura stramonium has 5 reported plant parts identified across 19 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include seed, leaf, root, flower, stem.

Seed

1. Bulletin de la Societe de pathologie exotique (1990)
2. Infection and drug resistance
3. The International journal of neuroscience
4. Archives of biochemistry and biophysics
5. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Leaf

1. Current pharmaceutical design
2. Fitoterapia
3. BMC complementary medicine and therapies
4. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
5. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Root

1. FEBS letters
2. Phytochemistry
3. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM
4. Applied microbiology and biotechnology

Flower

1. Bulletin de la Societe de pathologie exotique (1990)

Stem

1. Fitoterapia

Chemicals

Datura stramonium has 123 reported phytochemicals identified across 19 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include ATROPINE, scopolamine, hyoscyamine, Tannins, Flavonoids.

ATROPINE

1. Dr. Duke
2. Acta anaesthesiologica Belgica
3. Journal of forensic sciences
4. MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report
5. Natural toxins

scopolamine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of forensic sciences
3. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters
4. MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report
5. 3 Biotech

hyoscyamine

1. Dr. Duke
2. FEBS letters
3. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters
4. 3 Biotech
5. Fitoterapia

Tannins

1. Microscopy research and technique
2. Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine
3. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
4. Journal de mycologie medicale

Flavonoids

1. Microscopy research and technique
2. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
3. Journal de mycologie medicale

CATECHIN

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies
2. BMC immunology

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Dr. Duke
2. BMC immunology

Gallic acid

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies
2. BMC immunology

Glycosides

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
2. Journal de mycologie medicale

Lectin

1. The Biochemical journal
2. Archives of biochemistry and biophysics

Activities

Datura stramonium has 437 reported activities identified across 19 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Hallucinogenic, Analgesic, Toxic, Antiasthmatic, Antibacterial.

Hallucinogenic

1. American family physician
2. Orvosi hetilap
3. Southern medical journal
4. Delaware medical journal
5. La Revue de medecine interne

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine
3. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Toxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Poultry science

Antiasthmatic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal de mycologie medicale

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Current pharmaceutical design

Antiviral

1. Dr. Duke
2. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Bronchodilator

1. Dr. Duke
2. Thorax

Cytotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Acta crystallographica. Section C, Structural chemistry

Medicinal Uses

Datura stramonium has 57 reported medicinal uses identified across 19 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include asthma, hallucinations, anxiety, depression, mydriasis.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations