Vascular Plants of the Gila Wilderness

Presented in Association with the
Western New Mexico University Department of Natural Sciences

Datura wrightii Hort ex Regel
(Jimsonweed, Sacred Thorn Apple)


Family: Solanaceae

Status: Native

Synonyms:
Datura inoxia P. Miller subsp. quinquecuspida (Torrey) Barclay
Datura meteloides of NM authors, misapplied

Datura wrightii is a large, horizontally spreading plant with large dentate or lobed leaves and nearly equally large white flowers. The fruit is densely spiny. There are two carpels with axile placentation, but the capsule has 4 locules by virtue of the formation of a false septum. Each locule has many ovules. Datura wrightii is found at lower and middle elevations in dry sandy soil.
Please click on an image for a larger file.



Datura wrightii, photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns., Pancho Canyon, May 23, 2007



Datura wrightii, fruit, photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns., Saddlerock Canyon, Oct. 24, 2007



Datura wrightii, flower, photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns., WD Ranch Road, Aug. 12, 2008



Datura wrightii, seeds within ruptured capsule, photo Russ Kleinman & Richard Felger, Burro Mtns., Engineer Canyon, Dec. 29, 2008



Datura wrightii, cross section of ovary with 2 carpels with false septum and 4 locules resulting, photo Russ Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, July 30, 2011


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