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Medicinal, culinary and unusual botanicals from Australia and around the world

Datura leichhardtii – Native Thornapple (seed)

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$6.60

Description

Datura leichhardtii is named in honour of the collector or the type, the explorer Ludwig Leichhardt, in 1843 at Comet River in central Queensland. This species is regarded as being native to arid parts of Australia, probably being introduced somehow from central America centuries before European settlement.

Seed capsules tend to split suddenly into four quarters and drop the ripe seeds. The seeds are then dispersed by ants, the fatty elaiosome (white fatty tissue attached to one side of the seed) being particularly attractive as a reward for taking the seeds away from the parent plant and stored underground or a distance away.

Like all Daturas, this species contains atropine, hyoscine (scopolamine), hyoscyamine and should be handled with care.

Care and Cultivation of Datura leichhardtii

Datura leichhardtii seed can be sown in spring/summer/autumn. Sow 3-5mm under the surface of a well drained seed raising mix. This species responds well to GA3 treatment (mix as instructed and soak overnight before rinsing and planting as per instructions). Datura leichhardtii does not mind being transplanted. Prefers a full sun and well-drained position. Fertilise regularly over the growing season to encourage flowers.

If there is no germination after 3 weeks, try letting the soil dry out, disturb and dig the soil surface, pat back down and then start watering again. This should stimulate a number of germinations. You can repeat as needed.

10 seeds per packet

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