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| Datura suaveolens (Angel's Trumpet), Solanaceae ( Potato family ). This plant is native of tropical America, now is naturalized in most parts of the world. A large shrub with large leaves, very large, pendulous, funnel-shaped white flowers of up to 30cm long. Sweet-scented at night. In India, it is often heard of in the sanskrit scriptures as being one of the plants of choice of the travelling mendicants, particularly worshippers of Lord Shiva, the god of dissolution. With the proper preparation it is said to have hallucinogenic properties, however novices beware for if mal-prepared can be both toxic and fatal. Commonly, Datura species are grown for their attractive flowers. However, all parts of the plant are poisonous. Photographed by Steve Aitken'1999 - Kullu, India. |
