Datura belongs to the genus of the Solanaceae family. The name in Latin is Datura. People call this poisonous herbaceous annual plant crazy grass, grass of sorcerers, bad drunk, thistle, devil's grass.
Pharmacy name: Datura leaves or seeds.
Datura is categorized into four main types:
- Datura stramonium -common dope, or stinking dope;
- Datura innoxia - Indian dope
, or
dope harmless
;
- Datura metel - Indian dope
;
- Datura ceratocaula.
Botanical description
Datura is a herbaceous annual plant that grows to a height of 0.5 - 1 m. The root is white, stalk.
Characteristics of the appearance: the stem of the plant is erect, glabrous, trichato-branchy.
Leaves up to 10 cm wide, up to 15 cm long, glabrous. The upper part of the leaf is dark green, slightly lighter at the bottom. They are long-petiolate, alternate, ovate-pointed. The lateral and main veins of the first order protrude noticeably from below, of a whitish shade.
Flowers are located in the forks of the stem, single, large in size. The corolla is funnel-shaped, white. Calyx with five sides and five teeth, long tubular. Ovary with two nests, most often the nests are divided into two half nests each.
The color can be red, blue, yellow and white. Datura blooms from June to October. Flowers bloom in the evening. Blooming dope is a very beautiful sight.
The fruit is most often a four-celled capsule of large size, ovoid, with a large number of thorns, fleshy or completely drying out during ripening, or not opening, or splitting into four valves.
Datura flower: photo and description
This herbaceous plant grows up to one and a half meters up. It has a powerful stem and large, toothed leaves. Rhizome - pivotal, thick, white. The flowers are large, white or purple in color, and exude a pleasant scent. They are in the shape of a small lily and are located one at a time in the convolutions of the stem. The flower has five petals - they open in the evening.
The fruit of the "drunken cucumber" is a box with needles, consisting of five compartments. Each fruit contains up to 800 seeds. The plant blooms from July to September, the fruits ripen by mid-October. If you rub a dope leaf in your hand, you will smell an unpleasant smell. Most often, the plant is found in groups, almost does not grow alone.
Propagation of culture by cuttings
Mattiola - description, planting and growing from seeds
Datura reproduces by means of lateral and apical shoots. Harvesting is usually done at the end of September: a non-lignified stalk with 2-3 internodes is cut from a mature shoot, an incision is made immediately under the node, and the largest foliage is removed. Then they are rooted in light soil (vermiculite, peat, perlite) or in water - they take root well in fertile soil or just in a mug of water. Nevertheless, it will not be superfluous to create a greenhouse environment.To do this, you can take a regular package and cover the plant with it, after 10 days the package must be removed, during which time the first leaves should already form.
Datura in the garden
Cuttings hibernate at home, after the end of the spring frost, they are planted in open ground, where they rooted briskly. The stalk is buried to the first leaves, a small hole is dug out. The soil is moistened, slightly crushed.
You can also grow Datura from seeds, it is even easier, especially since they have a good germination percentage.
The benefits of dope ordinary, use in medicine
The beneficial properties of the "drunken cucumber" were discovered back in the 4th century BC. Avicenna mentioned the plant as narcotic drug... The key properties of henbane herb are due to the presence of alkaloids in it. For example, hyoscyamine inhibits the synthesis of bile, saliva, and sweating. The use of the plant is indicated for stimulating the heart, it relieves spasms of the respiratory system. Modern medicine produces drugs based on dope, which have proven to be effective in treating diseases:
- Asthma, bronchitis.
- Ulcers of the stomach and intestines.
- Rheumatism.
- Neuralgia.
- Tachycardia.
Traditional medicine uses a decoction and extract of leaves, juice, oil and henbane seeds. With the help of this raw material, epilepsy and nervous diseases are treated. The broth is effective in the treatment of tonsillitis and stomatitis, female diseases, bruises, rheumatism. It is used for douching and enemas, as well as rubbing. Datura oil treats eczema and constipation with fecal stones. It has established itself as an excellent tool for hair removal.
Powdered plant leaves are used in the manufacture of special cigarettes for asthmatics... In case of diseases of the respiratory organs, it is useful to inhale the smoke from the smoldering leaves of dope. The herb extract is a part of "Efatin" - an aerosol for asthmatics, as well as those who suffer from chronic bronchitis.
The flower is also used in veterinary... A decoction of the leaves is effective in treating cramps in cows. If a little grass is included in the diet of pigs, they will increase the body fat in the meat. In medicine and veterinary medicine, the question of dosage is very important. The amount of material that has a healing effect for each person highly individual... If the dosage is wrong, the consequences can be disastrous. Therefore, before using dope, you need to consult with your doctor and carefully weigh everything.
Varieties of datura
Garden plots and country houses are decorated with several varieties:
- Datura ordinary (Datura Stramonium), the popular name of the flower is datura blue. Its large, integral leaves are very decorative, and the funnel-shaped large white flowers create a sharp artistic contrast against their background. The most decorative flower variety, Datura srtamium var.tatula, has original blue-blue inflorescences.
- Datura Indian (Datura Innoxia) - has white flowers, grayish leaves and very thorny fruits. The Colombian and American Indians used the flower as a sleep-inducing and vision-inducing agent.
- Datura Indian (Datura Metel) - This species is widespread among countries in the southeast of Asia. The Hindus regard it with special respect, they consider it a plant of the gods - "the flower of Shiva". Datura is especially noteworthy for the stunning beauty of its abundant purple-white bloom.
Most of the species of this flower are intended for growing in the garden, but breeders have managed to bring out a special variety of Indian dope - "Ballerina" (Datura Metel Ballerina), it is well suited for home cultivation. The wide variety of these early flowering varieties is striking. They are not tall - they reach only 30–40 cm in height, have a dense and compact crown and wonderful double inflorescences, their diameter is about 10 cm.Inflorescences of cultivated species are snow-white, vanilla-cream, bright yellow, pale lilac and deep purple.
High decorativeness is inherent not only in the flowering of dope, but also in the unusual large fruits of the flower, they are strewn with processes in the form of sharp thorns and have the shape of bolls. In dried form, they are often used in the preparation of flower arrangements.
Datura or Datura is classified as an incredibly toxic plant, all of its parts are poisonous, from seeds and green fruits to stems and foliage. The first sign of poisoning is dilated pupils, then the pulse quickens, the appearance of thirst and headache is observed. Symptoms may gradually worsen until the victim enters a coma. Therefore, flowers are not recommended to be kept in small rooms or apartments with animals and small children.
In the photo is a flower Datura (dope)
Datura common harm
The grass is poisonous in any form... The plant is especially dangerous for pregnant and lactating mothers, children and those suffering from glaucoma. It is contraindicated for these categories of people even to care for dope if it is grown as an ornamental plant. Belena is most often poisoned by negligence.
Adherents of traditional medicine who do not observe the correct dosage suffer from poisoning. Another vulnerable category is young people who want to get the thrill of drinking henbane-based psychotropic potion. Out of curiosity, children open the boxes and taste the seeds.
Signs of poisoning dope ordinary:
- Swelling of the face.
- Violation of speech.
- Dilation of the pupils.
- Shortness of breath.
- The lips and mouth become dark blue.
- Heart beats faster.
- The temperature rises.
Effects:
With severe poisoning, a person begins to hallucinations and spasms throughout the body. The victim loses orientation in space and connection with reality. If nothing is done, breathing may stop and the person will die. At the first suspicion of poisoning, you should immediately call an ambulance. The victim's stomach is washed, cold compresses are made on the forehead, and injections of special drugs are injected, for example, proserin.
Collection and storage
During the period of abundant flowering from July to September, the aerial part of the grass is collected, mainly the leaves, and the seeds only in October. Unripe seeds contain scopolamine, a drug used in patients with lingering depression, which provides quick and long-lasting relief. Hands should be protected from contact with the grass, gloves are suitable.
Correct drying of raw materials should be carried out at temperatures up to 50-60 ° C. To preserve all the healing properties of Datura, seed boxes are best opened at maturity in September. A glass jar with a hermetically sealed lid is suitable for storage. Any contact with grass should end with soap and hand washing.
Plant handling precautions
If you do not know how to prepare drugs based on dope, it is forbidden to even pick its herb or seeds yourself. Small children are given preventive talks about poisonous plants. Show them a photo of henbane - this way they will remember the appearance of the plant. Even with the correct use of Datura drugs, over time, negative consequences can be traced - mental abnormalities, depression, glaucoma. Preparations based on the alkaloid atropine are taken temporarily and in very small doses.
Growing decorative dope
Because of its aesthetic "appearance", Datura is grown as an exotic decor on the site. White large flowers and carved leaves of a medicinal plant look very organic in landscape design compositions.If the bells of the plant become huge and emit a delicate aroma of sweets, then the care is correct.
It is considered normal that flowers wither after about a day. Flowering occurs in June and ends only in October. Datura grass is considered unpretentious because it grows like a weed along the road.
Datura herb. Photos and descriptions show that this is not only a beautiful plant, but useful if used correctly.
Do not plant this plant in several pieces next to each other, since in the heat it tends to emit a poisonous aroma in a more enhanced mode. They do not plant it next to playgrounds, because children are still unable to understand that the plant is very toxic.
Seeds are planted in March in increments of at least 1 meter, the width of the fossa is 40 cm, and the depth is 80 cm. Flowering will come a month after planting.
Datura herb is a somewhat useful plant that can solve many problems. Thanks to the photo and description, it can be recognized in order to protect yourself and your loved ones from negative influence in time.
Article design: Lozinsky Oleg
The use of a flower for decorative purposes
This dangerous plant is attractive to gardeners for its appearance and unpretentiousness. The flower is propagated by seeds. Seeds soaked in hot water are planted in spring. To do this, take pots with a prepared mixture of sand, earth and humus. Young and mature plants are planted in the ground in May. After 20 days, the first buds will appear on them. The flower can also propagate by cuttings.
Best suited as a garden flower dope indian - it has large white flowers that smell good. Breeders have developed many other varieties of dope with yellow, lilac and purple flowers. In addition, there are species with an unusual shape of petals - wrapped or in the form of stars.
Due to its pleasant aroma, dope is planted in places where unpleasant odors need to be masked - near septic tanks, cesspools, compost heaps, garbage containers. Nevertheless, dope is contraindicated for disembarkation near playgrounds, paths where children often walk, as well as flower beds overlooking the bedroom windows.
In order for the dope to grow normally, it needs only three conditions - loose soil, sufficient moisture and sun. To grow a flower from a seed, you don't even have to weed out weeds - they simply don't grow near a dangerous neighbor. On the Internet, you will not find a detailed description of the care of bleached, since it does not need special conditions of detention. Sometimes the plant can be fed with mineral fertilizers.
"Drunken cucumber" is a poisonous flower, the consumption of seeds and leaves of which causes hallucinations, delirium, failure of body systems and even death. Like any other poison, in micro doses, henbane herb has a medicinal effect. In addition, datura is used as an insecticide and ornamental plant. If you have small children or health problems, it is best that you do not have any form of dope herb in your home.
How to grow dope
What attracts dope gardeners? Unpretentiousness, long and beautiful flowering, decorativeness not only of flowers, but also of leaves. True, you should warn your loved ones and especially children that you intend to settle this far from safe plant in your garden. Protect it, if possible, from access to it by planting a mixborder in the background or enclosing it with a decorative fence. In short, take all precautions.
Datura ordinary is a perennial plant, but in the conditions of the Middle zone, it is cultivated as an annual. In more southern regions, it is possible to grow it as a perennial, with shelter for the winter. It is interesting that in Transcaucasia, southern Ukraine, the Crimean peninsula and Western Siberia, this flower has the status of a weed.
For the rest, the bad drunk is not capricious, and planting him on his own site will not bring any inconvenience. In order to get the result in the form of a beautiful flowering bush, you must:
- Prepare seed material for planting in advance.
- Take care of the place and soil where the plant will be planted.
Let's dwell on the ground. Take two parts of humus and black soil and one part of river sand. Mix the ingredients and slightly moisten, then put in a warm room until March.
The seedling method will help the plant bloom faster, and you will see all this splendor, so in March you should start planting seeds in prepared soil. The seeds should be "woken up" by placing them in hot water for 5 minutes, thrown out the floating ones, since they are empty, but we will work on the rest.
Put soil warmed up to room temperature in seedling boxes, moisten it and sow seeds, slightly covering them with soil. Put the boxes in a bright and warm place, sprinkle with water, not letting the earth dry out. The germination process will begin in 14 to 20 days. Until the sprouts form two leaves, you do not need to touch it. Try to provide the sprouts with maximum light and warmth, they will quickly gain strength.
At the end of May, when the night and morning frosts are over, you can plant the datura in the open ground. Add humus and sand to the place where the flowers will grow, this is needed for nutrition and drainage. Seedlings should be planted at least a meter of arcs from the buddy. When the plants gain strength, they will become voluminous and spreading, and in order for everyone to have enough space in the sun, one should not skimp on the territory. In depth, the seedlings are deepened by about 10 cm.If all the rules are followed, in July, expect gorgeous bushes blooming with white fragrant flowers.
It is desirable that the landing site be hidden from the winds. Ideal would be along a fence or wall. For the rest, the foolish drunk is not capricious. Give him daily watering, because the size of the bush and the number of flower stalks depend on this. Top dressing is done every seven days; mineral and organic fertilizers are suitable as nutrition. The henbane is very responsive to the "talker", which is closed in a bucket a week before watering.
Growing it indoors or injuring it until spring at home requires a little more attention. But here, too, there are some simple rules:
- In the cold winter period, the number of waterings is reduced.
- Top dressing should not be done in winter.
- The plant needs pruning, since bells will no longer appear on the old branches.
- After flowering, remove the inflorescences and prune the flower.
Main features of the content
Stable growth and lush blooming of indoor datura require you to follow some rules:
- The plant is a lover of good lighting, the earth should be nutritious and loose. The high acidity of the soil is neutralized with the "milk of lime" solution. For its preparation, 1 g of lime is diluted with 1 liter of water.
- It is better to water Datura about 3-4 times every 7 days, and in especially hot summer time - every day. In winter, watering is enough only once every 7 days.
- During the flowering period, weekly feeding with alternating complex and mineral organic fertilizers will not be superfluous. No additional feeding is needed in winter.
- Only new shoots of a plant are capable of forming flowers, therefore, when flowering stops on old stems, they must be cut off to form a crown.
When growing datura by seed method in room conditions, it is necessary to take into account that its seeds are distinguished by the presence of a dense leathery shell, which protects them from overdrying, cold and adverse environmental influences. But such a top cover also prevents germination. Despite this, enthusiasts are up to the challenge and can successfully cultivate such beauty in gardens and apartments.
Datura care
The varieties of this culture are unpretentious in matters of irrigation, fertilization, and care. For the flower to grow and develop normally, keep the soil loose and moist. Wood ash can be added periodically. Datura is poured 3-4 r. in Week. Dry summers can be more frequent. In winter, indoor watering is reduced to 1 p. in Week.
Advice. Use hard water for irrigation.
In the dope, only young shoots bloom. In the fall, all old ones should be cut off. In addition, this way you can form the crown of the shrub. Remove drooping buds during active flowering.
Plant history
The homeland of the "crazy grass" is still unknown. Information about the amazing plant is contained in written sources and legends in Europe, Asia, Africa, America. There are two origin theories: American and Asian. According to the first, the seeds of dope-grass were brought by the sailors of Columbus from America. The second theory attributes the spread of Datura to itinerant gypsies who found unusual seeds in the steppes near the Caspian Sea and from there transported them throughout Asia. None of these theories can be documented. Datura herb was also actively used by healers who sold, transported seeds from one country to another. Thus, the plant spread out to both hemispheres.
Traditionally, henbane was used by soothsayers to perform mystical rituals.
The Aztecs considered the "allolukwi herb" sacred. With its help, the priests caused collective hallucinations in people, which were considered an act of communication with higher powers. Seed boxes were sacrificed to deities. All other Indian tribes used Datura for witchcraft rituals, treatment of diseases, anesthesia during surgery.
Medieval Chinese doctors treated skin rashes, nervous diseases with flowers and henbane seeds, and used herbal decoction as anesthesia.
Hindus added dope seeds to wine, which they watered the soothsayers and dancers of the Shiva temple to immerse them in a state of special ecstasy. Indian doctors recommended rubbing an oil infusion of dope herb into the genitals for sexual weakness in men.
In medieval Europe, the plant was considered an attribute of sorcerers and poisoners. It was believed that witches used the "moon flower" to prepare "flying ointment", which enabled them to fly on a broomstick. It was also believed that with the help of seeds and leaves, sorceresses sent curses on enemies, removed damage, fright in children.
The history of the "crazy grass" goes back to ancient times. This is evidenced by the Slavic surnames. In Russia, Ukraine and Belarus there are people with the names Durman, Durmanovsky. The head of the Russian Olympic Anti-Doping Commission is Nikolai Durmanov. These surnames indicate that the Slavs have been familiar with the amazing plant for at least seven hundred years.
