Mike Belt
Well-Known Member
I had seeds I planted 3 years ago and kept seeds from those plants to replant in following years. I planted them because they made a beautiful, fragrant flower with a seed pod that resembles a giant cockaburr. I didn't know much about them. This year I planted moonflower vines and got to looking into my former plants that I knew by "moonflowers". They weren't the same. Datura is also called Jimson weed, devil's cucumber, Hells Bells, prickly burr, moonflower, mad seeds, and locoweed. There are about 9 different kinds and they're highly hallucinogenic. Crazy kids ingest or smoke the seeds and flowers. Many have died. In India and some foreign countries datura is a popular poison for suicide or murder. At one point in India's history it was used in an attempt to poison British troops. It has a history linked to witchcraft. It's one of the ingredients along with Puffer fish poison, ground insects, and human remains used by voodoo priests and sorcerers creating zombies from living humans. Interesting plants.
