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Synonyms: |
Datura metel L. p.p. |
Common names: | Downy thorn-apple (English) |
Frequency: | |
Status: | Introduced |
Description: |
Erect or sprawling annual or short-lived perennial herb or small shrub, up to c. 2 m. Branches often purple-tinged, softly pubescent and more or less glandular; all parts unpleasantly scented. Leaves alternate, more or less broadly ovate to elliptic, up to 17 × 9.5 cm, thinly textured, pubescent, particularly near the base below, on the veins and the margin; base often decurrent into the petiole; margin with coarse to almost lobe-sized triangular teeth. Flowers solitary in the forks of the branches, erect when fresh, later drooping. Calyx long and tube-like, up to 11.5 cm long, sometimes purplish and somewhat swollen towards the base, 5-angled with ovate to linear-triangular unequal apical lobes, up to 2.5 cm long. Corolla white or creamy, sometimes purple-tinged, 13-21 cm long, trumpet-shaped, somewhat 10-12-lobed with acuminate tips. Fruit nodding to pendulous, almost round to ovoid, up to 6 × 5.5 cm (including spines), covered with numerous slender spines, 8-12 mm long, purple-green to brownish when ripe, breaking up irregularly. All parts of the plant are poisonous. |
Notes: | |
Derivation of specific name: | |
Habitat: | Cultivated as a garden ornamental or for medicinal purposes, occurring as a naturalised weed of cultivated and disturbed areas. |
Altitude range: (metres) | Up to 1000 m |
Flowering time: | All year |
Worldwide distribution: | Native to tropical Central and South America. Naturalized throughout the tropics and subtropics. |
Zimbabwe distribution: | N,W,E,S |
Growth form(s): | |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | |
Insects associated with this species: | |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Images last updated: | Tuesday 4 October 2022 |
Literature: |
Gonçalves, A.E. (2005). Solanaceae Flora Zambesiaca 8(4) Pages 31 - 34. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 79. Maroyi, A. (2006). Preliminary checklist of introduced and naturalized plants in Zimbabwe. Kirkia 18(2) Page 243. Pickering, H. & Roe, E. (2009). Wild Flowers of the Victoria Falls Area Helen Pickering, London Page 107. (Includes a picture). Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 105. |
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