Datura dzdzierzawa(Datura stramonium) is an annual plant commonly found in ruderal areas. Due to the dark green, heavily cut leaves and large, calyx flowers, it is considered an ornamental plant. Learn about the healing and poisonous propertiesDatura propertiesand find out what it should look likegrowing Datura in the gardenHere are all the secrets about this plant!
Datura stramonium - Datura stramonium
Fig. Isidre blanc, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Datura is from the tropical regions of America, India and Asia. Currently, it can be found almost all over the world. In Poland, this species of Datura is common - it is covered with rubble, landfills, river banks, roadsides. Due to its properties and long tradition, over the centuriesDatura was known under many names : pig louse, dendrak, stupid turnip, devil's herb, devil's herb.
What does Datura Poland look like?
Datura is a herbaceous plant , growing up to 120-150 cm in height. It grows very strongly to the sides, creating quite large clumps. The pile root system is strong and well overgrown.
Datura leavesare large and oblong, ovoid in shape with a serrated edge, they are heavily indented. The upper part of the leaf blade is dark green, and the lower part is lighter in color. The leaves emit a rather unpleasant odor, which is also released when damaged or rubbed.
Datura strata - flowers and leaves
Fig. Taka, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Large, single, goblet-shaped flowers are directed upwards. Most often they are snow-white, but there are also purple or blue ones.Datura flowersappear from June to September and, like the leaves, give off an unpleasant odor. These flowers open in the evening and close with the advent of the day.
Green, thornyDatura fruitsare filled with black seeds. One purse can contain several thousand of them.
Daturapie dzdzierzawa - ripe fruit with seeds
Fig. Agnieszka Kwiecień, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Bieluń, a brugmansja
Datura is an annual plantbelonging to the nightshade family (Solanaceae).It is sometimes confused with a closely related brugmansia (Brugmansia), sometimes called a tree datura or datura datura. The confusion with the names of these plants is due to the fact that in the past, both plants were of the same genus - Datura. Currently, Brugmansia is a separate type of plants.Brugmansia is usually sold under the name "angel's trumpets", because it takes the form of a small tree decorated with very large, cup-shaped, hanging flowers. Brugmansja looks beautiful, but you have to remember that it is a highly poisonous garden plant, which, unlike Datura, does not have any medicinal properties.
Basic differences between the appearance of Datura and Brugmansji :
- Trumpet-shaped flowers of Datura are angled upwards, while in Brugmansia the flowers hang down
- In both plants the leaves are oval, serrated at the edges, but in the Datura tree they are additionally heavily trimmed
- The shoots of brugmansji noticeably become woody, as it is a shrub. Datura is an annual herbaceous plant
- The fruit of brugmansji is a woody, smooth, oval bag, while the fruit of Datura is covered with spikes
Bieluń Dziędzierzawa and brugmansja - differences
Fig. Isidre blanc / Maja Dumat, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Is Datura it is poisonous?
Strongly poisonous, both to humans and animals, are all parts of Datura.The seeds that contain tropane alkaloids (mainly hyoscyamine, atropine and scopolamine) are especially dangerous. hallucinogenic states. These compounds dilate the pupils, increase intraocular pressure, inhibit the secretion of glands and increase heart contractions.
The first symptoms of datura poisoning are : dilated pupils, blue lips, nausea, nervous agitation, palpitations heart, shortness of breath, shortness of breath and dizziness.In more severe cases, seizures and vomiting also appear. Failure to provide adequate treatment immediately after poisoning can result in death.Hallucinogenic properties of Datura seedshave been used for centuries in religious rituals and ceremonies.
Bieluń Dziedzierzawa - healing properties
What is accidentally ingested is highly poisonous, with proper use and dosage, it can have a healing effect. This is the case with Datura Dziecierzawa.
The healing properties of Datura were already used in ancient times The compounds produced by this plant have a strong analgesic and hypnotic effect, which is why Datura plants were once cultivated in pharmacy gardens as medicinal plants. In the Middle Ages, the decoction of Datura leaves was used as an aphrodisiacIn various parts of the world, Datura is used in folk medicine. In India it is used as a remedy for all ailments, in Nepal it is used to relieve headaches, and in Nigeria it is used to soothe insect bites and earache.
The medicinal raw material for Datura is : leaves collected during flowering, shoot tops and seeds. In addition to alkaloids and a small amount of tannins, the seeds contain up to 25% fatty oil.
Datura strata has both healing and poisonous properties
Fig. depositphotos.com
Nowadays, Datura is usedas an antibacterial and anti-diabetic agent. It is used to treat stomach and duodenal ulcers, gallstones, intestines and urinary tract. Datura alkaloids have strong analgesic properties and can be used in surgery. They are part of drugs used in chronic respiratory diseases and bronchitis.
Datura leaf decoction has a beneficial effectagainst abdominal pain, heart problems, colds, insomnia, neuralgia and disorders nervous.
Bieluń Dziedzierzawa - cultivation
Bieluń Dziedzierzawa prefersfertile, loose, permeable soil, rich in humus and nitrogen compounds, with a pH close to neutral. It grows best in sunny and quiet positions. Due to its large size, Datura must be provided with a lot of space.
Bieluń Dziedzierzawa - watering
Datura is very demanding on waterPlants should be watered very often, even every day, because the abundance of flowering depends on it. Datura is very fond of humid air and sprinkling. It does not tolerate hard water. It is worth collecting rainwater, because it is best to use soft and solid water for watering.
Due to the moisture-loving preferences of Datura, you should mix the soil with TerraCott before planting the plant. Apart from the starting dose of fertilizers and soil loosening lumps, it also contains a hydrogel. The hydrogel granules absorb water after watering and gradually give it back as the soil dries up.This keeps the substrate moist for longer.
Bieluń Dziędzierzawa - fertilization
Datura is intensively growingand forms a large green mass. Therefore, it has high nutritional requirements throughout the season. Every week we feed the plants with multi-component fertilizer for flowering plants. During the period of active growth and flowering, we use organic fertilizers twice a month, e.g. compost or plant slurries. Lack of nutrients, especially potassium, manifests itselfyellowing and falling leaves of Datura
Bieluń Dziedzierzawa - care
At the beginning of growth, it is necessary to periodically loosen the soil around the plant and remove weeds. However, once the plant has matured, it covers the soil and suppresses weeds. To prolong flowering, it is recommendedto regularly remove wilted flowersand damaged leaves.
Bieluń Dziedzierzawa - wintering
Datura is cultivatedin our climate as an annual plant, but you can try to winter it. For this purpose, in the fall, cut the aerial part of the plant, dig out the roots and place them in a cool and dark room. We make sure that the roots do not dry out. In spring we plant the plants permanently.
Datura strata - reproduction
Datura can be easily propagated from seedsPlants bear fruit very abundantly and they often self-seed. Sometimes the seeds sprout in the fall and are able to survive minor frosts. The temperature drop below -2 ° C kills the seedlings. After the harsh winter, the remaining seeds will germinate in February / March.
Fresh Datura seeds , harvested from fruiting plants, have the greatest germination capacity and are best used. You can also buy seeds, which are readily available for sale.
Datura seeds can be sowndirectly into the ground, but we will get a flowering plant much faster if we produce a seedling.For this, we sow seeds into boxes or individual pots in late February or early March. Cover the containers with glass or foil and put them in a sunny place, so that the temperature is at least 10 ° C. Seeds germinate after approx. 2 weeks, but emergence is uneven.
Let's remember about frequent airing and watering of plants. Ifwe sowed Datura seeds intoboxes, we transplant the seedlings into single pots after the production of 2 true leaves. Seedlings are usually transplanted into the ground in late May or early June. For about 14 days before planting, harden them by gradually exposing them outside for more and more of the day.
MSc Eng. Anna Błaszczak
