Poison

[Colin Key]

This beautiful flowering shrub "Brugmansia suaveolens" (often misnamed "Datura") is a garden plant but is now appearing more commonly in the wild here (this was shot at a local rubbish dump). All parts of the plant are highly toxic, the seed pods most so, but even the fragrance (a strong and beautiful smell of vanilla) is supposed to cause "mental delirium" in some people (I have several of these plants in my garden!! :ohdear:). I have it on good authority that if you dry the leaves, crush them and smoke them they have a very similar effect to taking LSD. As a non-smoker I cannot verify this - I will stick with the "Medronho" from the Arbutus.

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o100/Passarinhos/IMG_3278.jpg


Colin

[MichaelF]

From what I've read, the death rate among those who try it is also quite high.

[Colin Key]

From what I've read, the death rate among those who try it is also quite high.

But maybe they die happy! :cool:

Colin

[beltonbirder]

Is the vernacular "Angel's Trumpets?" We have Datura stramonium as an occasional coastal weed but "Angel's Trumpets?" I know as Datura ferox.

[MichaelF]

Is the vernacular "Angel's Trumpets?"
Yes; Datura is called Thorn-apple.

Brugmansia and Datura are closely related; some botanists treat them together in the same genus (as Datura). The difference between them is that Brugmansia is a woody perennial shrub and has pendulous flowers, whereas Datura is an annual herbaceous plant with erect flowers. In terms of toxicity and hallucinogenicity they are fairly similar.

[Colin Key]

Yes; Datura is called Thorn-apple.

Brugmansia and Datura are closely related; some botanists treat them together in the same genus (as Datura). The difference between them is that Brugmansia is a woody perennial shrub and has pendulous flowers, whereas Datura is an annual herbaceous plant with erect flowers. In terms of toxicity and hallucinogenicity they are fairly similar.

You certainly know your "flora" Michael, well done.

Speaking of "death by Brugmansia" (not smoking the leaves!), did you know that there was a case of a surgeon somewhere in S Europe a few years ago (regret cannot find the link or any info) who was convicted of manslaughter by professional misconduct. He had been found "unfit for duty" and in the interim had made some serious errors whilst performing operations resulting in the death of at least one patient. It was eventually attributed to him brushing against a Brugmansia as he left his house and the pollen on his clothes had had such a strong effect on his mental capacity as to turn him into "Dr Death".

I give my plants (which are in full bloom at the moment) a very wide berth!

Colin :eek:

[MichaelF]

Another close relative is the equally toxic (and equally nasty!) Nicotiana . . .