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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