Datura stramonium L.

Spice Flower Fruit In the field

Family: SOLANACEAE

Genus: Datura

Catalan common name: Estramoni. Figuera infernal borda. Herba pudenta. Herba talpera. Orval.

Spanish common name: Estramonio. Flor de la trompeta. Hierba hedionda. Higuera loca. Trompetilla.

Province distribution: Alacant. Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Castelló. Girona. Lleida. Tarragona. València.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Ibiza.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Neotropical

Uses and properties: Aphrodisiac. Medicinal. Psycotrophic plant.

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Terophyte.

Habitats: Cultivated fields, path and road sides, disturbed zones. Cultivated species. Cultivated fields and herbaceous communities.

Characteristics: Although an annual herbaceous plant, it can reach up to a good height, more than a metre. Originally from the Americas, but can be found naturalized in all of our islands in abandoned and cultivated fields. Characterized by the leaves, very wide and the margin with well-marked teeth. Flowers are white, and funnel shaped, petals are united almost until the tops. When fructifies, forms ovate capsules covered with long spiny emergences. This species, as other members of the genus has very potent hallucinogenic properties that are also toxic. Datura inoxia can also be found in the isles, with leaves entire and a symmetric base, as well as Datura ferox of which the spiny emergences of its capsule are much longer than Datura stramonium. Flowers in the summer and the fall.