Datura innoxia Mill.

First published in Gard. Dict., ed. 8.: n.° 5 (1768), nom. & orth. cons.
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Texas to Mexico. It is an annual or perennial and grows primarily in the subtropical biome. It is used as a poison and a medicine, has environmental uses and social uses and for food.

Descriptions

Bernal, R., Gradstein, S.R. & Celis, M. (eds.). 2015. Catálogo de plantas y líquenes de Colombia. Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá. http://catalogoplantasdecolombia.unal.edu.co

Distribution
Naturalizada y adventicia en Colombia; Alt. 50 - 800 m.; Llanura del Caribe, Valle del Magdalena.
Morphology General Habit
Hierba, arbusto
Conservation
No Evaluada
[CPLC]

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit
Plant up to 1 m or more tall, densely pubescent with spreading glandular hairs
Morphology Leaves Petiole
Petiole c. 1–6 cm long; leaf-blade ± broadly ovate, 7–18 x 5–15 cm, asymmetrical and broadly cuneate to truncate at the base, acute at the apex, with subentire to irregularly dentate margins
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx 8–10 cm long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla white or cream, 15–18 cm long, lobes mucronate at the apex
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers
Anthers c. 10 mm long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsules nodding, globose or ovoid, 3–5 cm in diam., densely covered with slender pubescent prickles, irregularly dehiscent at apex
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds brown, c. 4–5 mm long.
Distribution
N1; S1–3 native of America, now widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions.
Ecology
Altitude range 0–1300 m.
Vernacular
Booc madow (Somali)
[FSOM]

Solanaceae, Jennifer M Edmonds. Oliganthes, Melongena & Monodolichopus, Maria S. Vorontsova & Sandra Knapp. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2012

Type
Type: cultivated Chelsea Physic Garden from seeds collected in Veracruz, Miller s.n. (BM!, neo., designated by Barclay in Bot. Mus. Leafl. Harv. Univ. 18: 255 (1959), based on the original listing of the specimen in Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc., 51: 99, no. 1843 (1760)
Morphology General Habit
Annual or semiperennial herbs 0.3–1.5 m tall and 2 m wide, erect or spreading, often malodorous.
Morphology Branches
Branches smooth, violet, greyish-green or -brown, sometimes much-branched or becoming woody, velutinous to naked eye and usually viscid, villous/pilose usually predominantly glandular-headed, denser on young stems
Morphology Leaves
Leaves alternate, ovate-lanceolate to rhomboidal, (4–)8–15 × (3.2–)6–11 cm, bases usually obliquely cuneate, margins sinuate, with up to 3 shallow obtuse lobes, apices acute or acute/obtuse, young leaves densely villous/pilose becoming moderately pilose, especially dense on lower surfaces, midribs and veins; petioles (3–)6–10.5 cm long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers solitary, axillary, erect; pedicels (3–)6–8(–10) mm and erect in flower, elongating to 10–35 mm in fruit when pendulous, densely villous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx cylindrical becoming slightly bulbous centrally, moderately pilose externally, hairs glandular and eglandular, 7.8–11 × 1.1–2.2 cm, lobes narrowly triangular, 0.9–2.2 × 0.5–0.8 cm, apices acute, with dense hairs on the margins
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla white, sometimes cream or pale yellow with prominent venation, tubular below becoming funnel- or trumpetshaped above, sometimes double or triple, 14.5–19 cm long, glabrescent externally; tube 7–10 mm broad at base, usually with 5 terminal acuminate to caudate teeth ± 6 mm long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens with filaments free for 3.6–6 cm; anthers oblong, yellow, (8–)10–11 mm long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary ovoid, dark brown, 6–7 mm long, softly spinose; style 10–14.8 cm long; stigma ± 3 mm diameter
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit pendulous, broadly ovoid or globose brownish capsules, 2.5–4.5 × 2.5–5.5(–6) cm (including the spines), dehiscencing irregularly or by 2 valves; valves covered with sharply pointed equal and often greenish spines, 4–12 × ± 0.7 mm basally, densely villous/pilose throughout with spreading glandular and eglandular hairs; subtended by the persistent cupular remains of the calyx 1.4–2 cm deep and 2.8–4.5(–6) mm diameter, with dense short glandular and eglandular hairs internally; fruiting pedicels elongated, stout, pilose/villous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds pale brown to brown, reniform, 4–5 × 3.5–4.5 mm with lateral ridge, foveolate, with creamish elaisome
Figures
Fig 8/6–10, p 41
Ecology
Usually along rivers, occasionally on disturbed soil in ruderal sites; 300–700 m
Conservation
Widespread; least concern (LC)
Note
Datura innoxia is sometimes known as the Downy Thorn Apple, especially in Europe. It is the rarer of the three Datura species found in East Africa and is another important source of tropane alkaloids, and known for both its toxic and medicinal properties. Heine (F.T.W.A., 2nd. Ed: 326 (1963)) considered the spelling of inoxia as used by Miller l.c. and subsequent authors to be an orthographic error. Miller apparently based this epithet on the pre-Linnean polynomial of Boerhaave (Ind. alt. hort. Acad. Lugd.-Bat.,1: 262 (1720)) in which the correct spelling of innoxia was used (Heine l.c.). Heine’s decision has therefore been adopted here. The typification of D. innoxia is dealt with by Barclay in Bot. Mus. Leafl. Harvard Univ. 18: 254 (1959). The species D. metaloides Dunal (DC., Prodr. 13(1): 544 (1852)), [which is cited as D. meteloides (DC. MSS) Novae Hispaniae region. D. metel Moc. & See., pl. Mex. ined. ic. et mss. t. 919 collect transl. Candoll.] has been variously treated as a synonym of D. innoxia (e.g. Barclay, 1959) or as a distinct species (e.g. Safford (1921) and Satina & Avery (1959)). In line with Haegi’s (in Austr. Journ. Bot., 24: 422 (1976)) opinion that more work is required on the typification of this taxon, it has been omitted from list of synonyms.
Distribution
Flora districts: K7 T3 Range: Native to tropical America, cultivated as an ornamental and now a widespread weed throughout the tropics
[FTEA]

Bernal, R., G. Galeano, A. Rodríguez, H. Sarmiento y M. Gutiérrez. 2017. Nombres Comunes de las Plantas de Colombia. http://www.biovirtual.unal.edu.co/nombrescomunes/

Vernacular
chamico, mata de San Pedro
[UNAL]

Flora Zambesiaca. Vol. 8, Part 4. Solanaceae. Gonçalves AE. 2005

Type
Type: a specimen of Miller (?BM) of a plant cultivated in the Chelsea Physic Garden, London (England), raised from seeds sent probably by Houstoun from Vera Cruz (Mexico).
Morphology General Habit
Erect or ascending to sprawling herb or small shrub, 0.3–1. 6(2) m high, unpleasantly scented, often tinged purplish
Morphology Branches
Branches striate and ± sulcate, densely and softly pubescent and ± glandular
Morphology Leaves
Leaves solitary, the upper ones geminate; petiole (0.6)1–7(9.5) cm long; lamina membranous or papyraceous, 4–17 × (1. 6)2.5–9.5 cm, broadly to narrowly ovate, occasionally rhombic, elliptic or ± oblong, base truncate or rounded to cuneate, occasionally ± cordate, and oblique to dimidiate, often ± decurrent into the petiole, apex acute to shortly acuminate, entire or sinuate to coarsely dentate or lobed with few, irregular, broadly triangular, obtuse or sub-acute teeth or lobes, ± pubescent, more densely so beneath especially towards the base, at or near the margins and on the nerves, ± glandular, the lateral nerves looped within the margin
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers solitary, inserted in the fork of the branches, at first erect, later drooping.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel
Pedicel (4)8–16 mm long, stout, densely pubescent and ± glandular, in fruit elongated to 20(45) mm
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx sometimes purplish downwards, 7.5–11. 5 × 1. 2–2 cm, ± densely shortly pubescent to tomentose-villous mainly on the nerves and towards the base, more densely so on the lobes near and at the margins, and also towards the apex on the inside, drying with prominent longitudinal nerves; tube often somewhat inflated downwards and narrowed upwards; lobes subequal or unequal, and then often one larger than the other 4, 0.8–2.5 × 0.3–1 cm, ovate- to linear-triangular, ± acute to narrowly long-acuminate; in fruit much accrescent with the venose flange up to 20 mm wide, reflexed
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla white or creamy, occasionally slightly tinged purple, lavender or violet, 13.5–21 cm long, trumpet-shaped to ± tubular, simple, glabrous or with few scattered hairs along the longitudinal nerves; tube narrow, filling the calyx for half or more of its length, with few, short and relatively wide hairs scattered below on the staminal region within; limb (3)5–11(13) cm across, 10(12)-lobed; lobes ± triangular with a wider base and ± narrowing to the apex into an acute to long-acuminate tip up to 11 mm long, often curved, usually 5(6) shorter, acute at the apex, alternating with 5(6) longer, ± long-acuminate at the apex
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 5, included; filaments adnate to above the middle of the corolla tube and glabrous or with a few, short, relatively wide hairs, free upwards for 3.5–6 cm and usually glabrous; anthers 8–14 mm long, linear or ± oblong in outline
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary up to 6 × 5 mm, ovoid, with fleshy, slender and long appendages on the surface, finely pubescent and ± glandular.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style
Style (8.5)9.5–14(16.5) cm long, straight, glabrous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit nodding or pendulous, brownish when ripe, (3.5)4–6 × 3.5–5.5 cm including spines, ovoid or ± globose, rather thin-walled, densely covered with numerous, slender, ± acicular spines 8–12 mm long, finely pubescent all over, irregularly breaking up
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds yellowish-brown or brown, (4)4.5–5 × 3.2–3.5(4) × 1–1. 2 mm, ± reniform, strongly thickened and longitudinally ridged at the border, finely reticulate, foveolate; caruncle fleshy
Note
Widely confused with D. metel L. Cultivated as a garden ornamental and also for medicinal purposes. A widespread and common weed of cultivation and disturbed ground. Chromosome number: 2n=24
Distribution
BOT N, BOT SE, ZIM N, ZIM E, MAL S, MOZ T, MOZ MS Native to tropical (Central or South) America, now widely naturalized in the tropics and subtropics. Malawi Mozambique Zimbabwe Botswana.
[FZ]

Distribution
Biogeografic region: Caribbean. Elevation range: 50–800 m a.s.l. Naturalised in Colombia. Colombian departments: Atlántico, Bolívar, Cesar, Cundinamarca, La Guajira, Magdalena.
Habit
Herb, Shrub.
Ecology
Habitat according IUCN Habitats Classification: forest and woodland, savanna, shrubland, artificial - terrestrial.
Vernacular
Chamico, Malaatapui, Ñongué
[UPFC]

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation
Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident
[AERP]

Uses

Use Environmental
Environmental uses.
Use Food
Used for food.
Use Materials
Used as material.
Use Medicines
Medical uses.
Use Poisons
Poisons.
Use Social
Social uses.
[UPFC]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
  • Catálogo de Plantas y Líquenes de Colombia

    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
  • Flora of Somalia

    • Flora of Somalia
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.
    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
  • Kew Science Photographs

    • Copyright applied to individual images
  • Plants and People Africa

    • Common Names from Plants and People Africa http://www.plantsandpeopleafrica.com/
    • © Plants and People Africa http://www.plantsandpeopleafrica.com http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
  • Universidad Nacional de Colombia

    • ColPlantA database
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
  • Useful Plants and Fungi of Colombia

    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0