Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Little Shop Of Horrors? Hey, What IS This?


THIS is growing in my fallow FFA pig pen and there is no way that is a fellow native.

What is it?
I don't have time to search it up this morning and a cold has sapped my urge to do much of anything, so I call on the wisdom of blogopolis.



It looks sinister and when I get home today, those seed filled pods and the rest of the plant are going to a little barbeque ...

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

Datura

Not a good plant to have around, hallucinogenic, possibly toxic, depending upon the dosage.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datura

tai haku said...

That's a Datura for sure. I don't know which one but I think they're all more likely to equal dead pig than high pig when eaten in pig-sized proportions.

CrackerNation said...

This is it and it is associated with tragic events in the Jamestown Colony.

http://www.ppws.vt.edu/scott/weed_id/datst.htm

Dani said...

Angels trumpet I think is the common name.

threecollie said...

Looks like Jimsonweed or more correctly datura, as the first commenter said. Good stuff to get gone and quickly!

Deb said...

Well, I learned something new today, thanks to PF readers.

h said...

Everyone above is correct. It goes by a lot of names. "Jimson Weed" in Troll County.

It's classified as "non-native but naturalized". Think that means it's been here a LONG time. Kind of like the Kennedy Clan in Palm Beach.

You could do a teaching lesson with it called "Poisonous stuff that idiots take to get stoned" in your class.

robin andrea said...

Well, since there is consensus here on what that is, I'd like to inquire about your health. I hope your cold clears up soon, fc.

h said...

Look around to see if it appears some local idiot is cultivating it.
Get sound advice (not from bloggers) on how to safely eradicate it.

Pretty sure a BBQ will not be the recommended method as the smoke is toxic.

Robbie said...

Yep, Jimson weed. Datura Stramonium. Toxic, hallucinogenic.
And, strangely enough, smells like stink bugs... always wondered if they eat it.

Florida Native Mom said...

I think I just heard that strange plant say "Feed me Seymour!"

Just the Right Size said...

Agreed with everyone else: BAD NEWS! Don't burn it, dig it up ASAP and get it away from the little piggy.

Composting it in a nice, hot pile is prob better, or in a deep, deep hole.

Caroline said...

Otherworldly aliens would recognize a fellow...datura. Known in some circles as one of the "witch's weeds" along with nightshade.
On the positive side it is a larval plant for the giant leopard moth which is a stunningly handsome creature.

R.Powers said...

Thanks everyone.
I will double bag it and let it rot in a deep posthole.

Really appreciate the quick response. It will be gone this afternoon.

My cold, Robin, is just a cold apparently, no oinkflu fever or aches. Thanks.

kevin said...

I've seen that stuff but who knew it could be so much fun.

Misti said...

We grow datura's and haven't had them out of control. I've not seen them in the wild down here, yet....

But, I also don't have kids to worry about them eating. We have brugs, too, their taller cousin.

amarkonmywall said...

DATURA! Feed it to Bear! It will enhance his creative writing skills and make him even happier! Seriously- before you torch it, admire the flowers which bloom at night...they are pretty amazing. Up north people pay big bucks for those plants.

Anonymous said...

Devil's Trumpet.

Not a tree like it's brother Angel's Trumpet. Doesn't smell as nice or look as pretty either.
Some of those double flowers are pretty though. Was this one a double or a single?
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/49910/

SophieMae said...

I share your ennui. *bluuuhhhhh* When I saw your title, I was hoping to see a triffid. I was sure I'd snapped one of those a few years back, but it was merely a gargantuan mutantated gaura. Hope you're quickly back up to snuff.

R.Powers said...

Daturupdate:
Plucked it from the pig pen yesterday and delt with it. I knew about it's droopy bloomed cousin Angel's trumpet and the druggy effects of that one, but had not seen this critter before.
Again, I appreciate the advice.

Vicki, Bear likes a cold beer to loose the writing muse.

Ivan said...

We typically have a few beautiful, deep purple daturas here and there around the yard. We also have a big volunteer pokeweed I've let grow up next to the front walk, and a huge purple hyacinth bean bush. All are poisonous. Purple seems to be God's semaphore for "handle with care." I've never had trouble with any of them, but we've always treated them as "look but don't touch, smoke, or eat."

One time I did get a migraine of sorts from handling yellow trumpets, which we also have a couple specimens of, by the roots. So, when you do have to handle poisonous plants, wear gloves.