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

Datura metel – White Devil’s Trumpet (seed)

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$6.60

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Description

Datura metel is thought to have originated in India but has spread all around the world due to its use as a drug, medicine and ornamental species.

An annual/biennial plant, this variety of Datura metel has large white double flowers. These break apart upon maturity to release the seeds which have a whitish attachment known as an elaiosome (a piece of nutrient rich tissue which attracts ants to aid in seed dispersal). The soft green leaves have a foetid smell when touched and the plant can reach a height of 2 metres. Solanaceae family.

Like all Daturas, this species contains atropine, hyoscine (scopolamine), hyoscyamine and should be handled with care. Datura metel has the highest concentration of scopolamine of all Datura species (Ratsch 1998); also present are hyoscyamine, atropine and meteloidine. The leaves contain 0.5% alkaloids, the flowers 0.1 – 0.8%, the fruit 0.12%, the roots 0.1 – 0.2% and the seeds 0.2 – 0.5%.

Care and Cultivation of Datura metel

Datura metel 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 metel does not mind being transplanted. Prefers a full sun and well-drained position. Fertilise regularly over the growing season to encourage flowers.

If there are no germinations 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.

5 seeds per packet

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