Datura contains
several poisonous alkaloids that can cause temporary blindness, respiratory depression, seizures,
high fevers, and hallucinations. It has been used by some North American native cultures for
religious purposes, and more recently, by some as a recreational hallucinogenic. But the
effective dosage is dangerously close to the fatal dosage, and panic following temporary
blindness causes many injuries as well. See the description of the closely related species
Datura inoxia Mill. ssp. quinquecuspida (Torr.) Barcl.
Datura metel L. var. quinquecuspida Torr.
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Datura wrightii Regel Angel’s trumpet, sacred thorn-apple, sacred datura, western jimson weed, belladonna, toloache, Jimsonweed, thorn-apple, angel trumpet
Although native to Mexico and the southwestern United States, angel's trumpet is found through much of North America now. Identification: Angel's trumpet grows in bushes 2-4′ (60-121 cm) high, with grayish-green stems coated with fine hairs. Leaves are alternate, 6″ (15 cm) × 4″ (10 cm), with smooth margins. The leaves have the unusual property that they are not symmetric at the base— one side is somewhat larger than the other. Flowers are 5-9″ (12-22 cm) long, trumpet-shaped, and white, cream-colored, or purplish. The fragrant flowers have several segments, with small points at the edges between them. Fruits are prickly, about 1″ (2.5 cm) across. Edibility: Poisonous |
8/7/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, near Nashoba Hospital, Ayer, Massachusetts · ≈ 14 × 9″ (35 × 23 cm)
5/2/2018 · Pinto Basin Road, Joshua Tree National Park, California · ≈ 10 × 6″ (24 × 16 cm)
9/1/2014 · New Mexico · ≈ 15 × 10″ (37 × 25 cm) |
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These varieties of Datura have similar ranges and psychoactive effects, and they are often confused: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Datura stramonium |
You are here Datura wrightii |
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| Common Name |  |
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| Plant | This non-woody bush grows to 3-5′ (91-152 cm) in height, with stiff, hollow stems that are green or purple. Plant is malodorous. | Angel's trumpet grows in bushes 2-4′ (60-121 cm) high, with grayish-green stems coated with fine hairs. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Flowers | Flowers are smaller, 2½-5″ (6.3-12 cm) × 1-2″ (2.5-5 cm), trumpet-shaped, fragrant, white, cream-colored, purple, or white with a purple center. They usually open only partially, unfurling to produce a spiral, pinwheel-like effect. | Large, 5-9″ (12-22 cm) long, fragrant, trumpet-shaped, and white, cream-colored, or purplish. They have several segments, with small points at the edges between them. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Leaves | Toothed, wrinkly leaves are 3-8″ (7.6-20 cm) × 1-6″ (2.5-15 cm), mostly hairless. | Alternate, 6″ (15 cm) × 4″ (10 cm), with smooth margins and sometimes slightly wavy edges. The leaves have the unusual property that they are not symmetric at the base— one side is somewhat larger than the other. Leaf undersides have fine hairs. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fruit | Densely thorny egg-shaped capsule 1″ (2.5 cm) in diameter, consisting of four segments, and containing many dark brown or black seeds. | Prickly, about 1″ (2.5 cm) across. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Habitats | Coastal sage scrub, valley grasslands, joshua tree woods, pinyon-juniper woods | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type | Wild | Wild | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
References:
Online References:
Wildflowers, Ferns & Trees of Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah
Southeastern Arizona Wildflowers and the Plants of the Sonoran Desert
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
George and Audrey DeLange's Arizona wildflower site
Vascular Plants of the Gila Wilderness
SEINet—the Southwest Environmental Information Network
5/2/2018 · Pinto Basin Road, Joshua Tree National Park, California · ≈ 12 × 8″ (31 × 20 cm) 
8/27/2014 · Petroglyph National Monument Visitor Center, New Mexico 
4/30/2018 · Kelbaker Road, Mojave National Preserve, California · ≈ 8 × 12″ (20 × 31 cm) 
8/7/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, near Nashoba Hospital, Ayer, Massachusetts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 15 cm) 
ID is uncertain 
6/14/2008 · Stan & Connie’s, Falmouth, Maine · ≈ 16 × 11″ (40 × 26 cm) ID is uncertain 
8/27/2014 · Petroglyph National Monument Visitor Center, New Mexico · ≈ 12 × 8″ (31 × 21 cm) 
9/1/2014 · New Mexico · ≈ 12 × 8″ (31 × 21 cm) 
4/30/2018 · Kelbaker Road, Mojave National Preserve, California · ≈ 12 × 8″ (31 × 20 cm) 
5/31/2009 · Marble Canyon, Arizona ID is uncertain 
5/2/2018 · Pinto Basin Road, Joshua Tree National Park, California · ≈ 8 × 5″ (20 × 13 cm) 
4/29/2018 · Willow Spring Picnic Area, Red Rock Canyon, Nevada · ≈ 8 × 12″ (20 × 31 cm) 
9/1/2014 · New Mexico · ≈ 10 × 15″ (25 × 37 cm) 
Datura wrightii description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 16 Sep 2020.
© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.
5/31/2009 · Marble Canyon, Arizona ID is uncertain 
5/2/2018 · Pinto Basin Road, Joshua Tree National Park, California · ≈ 8 × 12″ (20 × 31 cm) 
5/2/2018 · Pinto Basin Road, Joshua Tree National Park, California · ≈ 10 × 6″ (24 × 16 cm) 
5/2/2018 · Pinto Basin Road, Joshua Tree National Park, California · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm) 
9/1/2014 · New Mexico · ≈ 2 × 1′ (59 × 39 cm) 
9/1/2014 · New Mexico · ≈ 1½ × 2½′ (53 × 79 cm) 
6/14/2008 · Stan & Connie’s, Falmouth, Maine · ≈ 2 × 1½′ (65 × 43 cm) ID is uncertain 
5/2/2018 · Pinto Basin Road, Joshua Tree National Park, California · ≈ 10 × 6″ (24 × 16 cm) 
4/29/2018 · Red Spring Calico Basin, Red Rock Canyon, Nevada 
5/31/2009 · Marble Canyon, Arizona ID is uncertain 
4/29/2018 · Willow Spring Picnic Area, Red Rock Canyon, Nevada 
8/7/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, near Nashoba Hospital, Ayer, Massachusetts · ≈ 12 × 8″ (31 × 21 cm) ID is uncertain 
5/2/2018 · Pinto Basin Road, Joshua Tree National Park, California · ≈ 8 × 5″ (20 × 13 cm) 
8/27/2014 · Petroglyph National Monument Visitor Center, New Mexico 
Range:
