Datura ceratocaula
Encyclopedia
Datura ceratocaula is a species of Datura
. It is weed-like in its natural habitat, but is grown in gardens and yards as an ornamental plant
. The flower has a sweet smell. It is an annual plant
that originally came from Mexico.
In its natural habitat Datura ceratocaula grows in shallow water or in a swamp
. It has a hollow gray-green stalk between 12 and 36 in. long, with toothed, undulated ovate-lanceolate leaves that have hairs on the underside.
The plant's broad, funnel-shaped flowers bloom from June to September. They are white with a blue cast on the outside and white to pink on the inside. The seed pods are not thorny like those of most Datura species, instead having the appearance of inverted eggs as they dangle from the plant. The plant's stalks are curved like an animal's horn (ceratocaulus = curved like a horn), and have less tendency to fork than other species of Datura.
Datura ceratocaulas toxicity is such that it can be transmitted up the food chain. A species of duck
lives in the swamps and lagoons near Mazatlán
. Their meat is said to be poisonous, and eating it has been known to produce symptoms of having been poisoned or drugged. This was long a mystery, but now it is known to be due to Datura poisoning. The ducks eat the leaves and seeds of Datura ceratocaula, and their flesh contains a toxic level of poison from this diet.
Datura
Datura is a genus of nine species of vespertine flowering plants belonging to the family Solanaceae. Its precise and natural distribution is uncertain, owing to its extensive cultivation and naturalization throughout the temperate and tropical regions of the globe...
. It is weed-like in its natural habitat, but is grown in gardens and yards as an ornamental plant
Ornamental plant
Ornamental plants are plants that are grown for decorative purposes in gardens and landscape design projects, as house plants, for cut flowers and specimen display...
. The flower has a sweet smell. It is an annual plant
Annual plant
An annual plant is a plant that usually germinates, flowers, and dies in a year or season. True annuals will only live longer than a year if they are prevented from setting seed...
that originally came from Mexico.
In its natural habitat Datura ceratocaula grows in shallow water or in a swamp
Swamp
A swamp is a wetland with some flooding of large areas of land by shallow bodies of water. A swamp generally has a large number of hammocks, or dry-land protrusions, covered by aquatic vegetation, or vegetation that tolerates periodical inundation. The two main types of swamp are "true" or swamp...
. It has a hollow gray-green stalk between 12 and 36 in. long, with toothed, undulated ovate-lanceolate leaves that have hairs on the underside.
The plant's broad, funnel-shaped flowers bloom from June to September. They are white with a blue cast on the outside and white to pink on the inside. The seed pods are not thorny like those of most Datura species, instead having the appearance of inverted eggs as they dangle from the plant. The plant's stalks are curved like an animal's horn (ceratocaulus = curved like a horn), and have less tendency to fork than other species of Datura.
Toxicity
All parts of Datura plants contain dangerous levels of poison and may be fatal if ingested by humans or other animals, including livestock and pets. In some places it is prohibited to buy, sell or cultivate Datura plants.Datura ceratocaulas toxicity is such that it can be transmitted up the food chain. A species of duck
Duck
Duck is the common name for a large number of species in the Anatidae family of birds, which also includes swans and geese. The ducks are divided among several subfamilies in the Anatidae family; they do not represent a monophyletic group but a form taxon, since swans and geese are not considered...
lives in the swamps and lagoons near Mazatlán
Mazatlán
Mazatlán is a city in the Mexican state of Sinaloa; the surrounding municipio for which the city serves as the municipal seat is Mazatlán Municipality. It is located at on the Pacific coast, across from the southernmost tip of the Baja California peninsula.Mazatlán is a Nahuatl word meaning...
. Their meat is said to be poisonous, and eating it has been known to produce symptoms of having been poisoned or drugged. This was long a mystery, but now it is known to be due to Datura poisoning. The ducks eat the leaves and seeds of Datura ceratocaula, and their flesh contains a toxic level of poison from this diet.
External links
- Photographs of Datura ceratocaula
- Cultivating Datura ceratocaula
- USDA Gremplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN): Datura ceratocaula Ortega
- Datura ceratocaula information summary