Datura stramonium L.
Thornapple (Datura stramonium) is a short-lived, annual herb that is native to tropical and subtropical America. It was introduced to New Zealand as a contaminant of crop seed and was first recorded in the wild (naturalised) in 1867. The plant grows up to about 1.5 metres tall and has erect, branching stems and large, coarsely toothed leaves with a distinctive smell when crushed. It flowers from November to April, producing large, white to pale purple, trumpet-shaped flowers, which develop into erect, spiny seed capsules. The capsules split open when mature to release numerous black seeds. It tolerates drought, disturbed habitats and a wide range of soil types. It reproduces by seed. Seeds are dispersed by contaminated soil, machinery, water and human activities. All parts of the plant, especially the seeds, contain toxic alkaloids and are poisonous if eaten.
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