Family: Solanaceae
Common name: Indian thorn apple, Devil’s trumpet, Angel’s trumpet, Horn of plenty, Hoary Thorn-Apple, Datura, Purple Thorn-Apple, Metel, DhatÅ«ra
Devil’s trumpet is a herbaceous short-lived plant notorious for its deadly toxicity, present in all parts of the plant like roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits. They belong to the Nightshade family of Solanaceae which also contains plants like tomatoes, potatoes, and tobacco.
Plant characteristics
Devil’s trumpet plants are commonly seen in the wild or in landscaped gardens, but not in homes. The stem is thickened and woody towards the base growing to a height of 1.5 to 2 meters. The stem branches well, and is deep purple in color.
Leaves of Devil’s trumpet plants are large, broad, oval in shape, about 15-20 cm long. The leaf surface is smooth and has slightly wavy margins. Stem and leaves are toxic and hence should not be eaten even in small quantities, since the alkaloids contained in them can cause hallucinations and death.
Contact with the leaves and stem can cause skin irritation, and hence they should be handled with care.
Devil’s trumpet flowers are very attractive, purple in color with a white interior. Petals can be single or double, and can vary in color from white, cream, red, purple, and yellow based on the variant.
Flowers are 10-15 cm long with a pleasant fragrance, especially in the evening. Unopened blooms look like the Burj Khalifa with multiple layers of petals folded in.
These flowers attract nocturnal pollinators like moths because of their flowers that are white inside. They can stay for a few days before the flowers wilt and fall away.
Devil’s trumpet flowers are very attractive, giving the plant an ethereal appearance, but their high concentration of alkaloids makes them extremely toxic.
Fruits of Devil’s trumpet flowers are spiny, green capsules that are 5-10 cm in diameter. They start as small green balls, maturing and splitting open to release numerous flat brown or black seeds. The fruits and seeds are toxic, the spines on them preventing animals from consuming them.
Gardening tips
Because of their toxicity, it is not advisable to grow Devil’s trumpet plants in home gardens. Keep them away from pets and small children, who might accidentally consume them. They prefer good direct sunlight and well-drained soil.
They can survive in a variety of weather conditions, but they are sensitive to frost and cannot be grown in regions with very cold winters.
Pruning and fertilization are not needed. These plants need to be watered regularly, especially during the summer months.
Since the plants are very toxic, they are not eaten by grazing animals. They are susceptible to aphids, mealy bugs, and fungal infestations which should be treated with organic pesticides.
Devil’s trumpet plants are very closely related to Downy thorn apple or Datura innoxia, and Brugmansia or Angel’s trumpets – the flowers look very much alike, but they have differences in plant characteristics. All of them have beautiful trumpet-shaped flowers.
Devil’s trumpet plants were used by thugs in olden times to stupify and kill people, indicating the level of toxicity they contain. So they should be handled with care, preferably using gloves.
Care should be taken to not bring any part of the plant in contact with the eyes, nose, mouth, or skin.
Uses of Devil’s trumpet plants
Most plants of the Solanaceae family have toxicity due to the alkaloids present in them, and hence should not be used medicinally or for food.
There are plants like tomatoes and potatoes, where the fruits can be safely consumed, but the roots, leaves, or flowers of even these plants should not be eaten.
Though they are toxic, Devil’s trumpet plants were used to treat respiratory and digestive ailments in traditional herbal medicine, taken in prescribed quantities.
There is a very small difference between a prescribed dose and a lethal dose. So no part of the plant should be consumed, even in tiny quantities.They are used as pesticides and insect repellents.
They have long been associated with witchcraft and sorcery since the plant causes hallucinations.
Propagation
Propagation is through seeds and stem cuttings.
Each fruit contains over 100 seeds, which can be collected, dried, and sown to germinate. Semi-hardwood cuttings can also root well in moist soil.
Photographed at: Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden, Howrah
