Datura wrightii

Common Name: Jimsonweed, Thorn Apple, Sacred Datura
Oˊodham Name: Kotaḍopi (Kotadtopi) Audio
Group: Annuals － Desert, Desert Grassland. POISONOUS.

Description

Datura wrightii is a foul-smelling leafy perennial that re-grows every Spring from a large tuber that survives the freezing temperatures underground. It grows at 1000 to 6000 feet elevation and is found in sandy areas and washes, among boulders, and in disturbed areas. After the first heavy monsoon season rain, sandy areas may appear peppered with small plants, most of which do not survive to maturity, Its white flowers are the largest in the desert, opening during dusk throughout the warm season. During summer, it produces spiny fruit 1 to 2 inches in diameter that contain hundreds of large seeds. POISONOUS.

Classification

Kingdom Plantae － Plants

Subkingdom Tracheobionta － Vascular plants

Superdivision Spermatophyta － Seed plants

Division Magnoliophyta － Flowering plants

Class Magnoliopsida － Dicotyledons

Subclass Asteridae

Order Solanales

Family Solanaceae － Potato family

Genus Datura L. － jimsonweed

Species Datura wrightii Regel － sacred thorn-apple

More Information

USDA Plant Profile and Map