Jimsonweed

August 28, 2015

Datura stramonium L. 

Life cycle

Erect, branching summer annual. 

Jimsonweed plant
Jimsonweed plant.

Leaves

Cotyledons are long and narrow with a prominent midvein. Leaves are alternate, oval to egg-shaped, 3 to 8 inches long, smooth with long petioles. First leaves are entire; later leaves have large, coarsely and unevenly toothed margins. Damaged leaves will emit a foul odor. 

Jimsonweed leaf Jimsonweed seedling
Jimsonweed leaf (left) and seedling (right).

Stems

Erect and branching, up to 5-foot-tall stems are hollow, generally smooth and green to purple. Damaged stems emit a foul odor.

Flowers and fruit

Flower petals are large, white to purple in color and fused into a 2- to 5-inch-long tube. Fruit are very spiny, egg-shaped capsules with four valves. Each valve contains numerous flat, dark brown to black, round to kidney-shaped seeds.

Jimsonweed immature fruit Jimsonweed mature fruit
Immature Jimsonweed fruit (left). Mature Jimsonweed fruit (right).

Reproduction

Seeds.

Toxicity

All plant parts are toxic to animals.

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