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Datura stramonium

L. (1753)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Asterids Order: Solanales Family: Solanaceae Genus: Datura

jimson weed, kīkānia [kikania], kīkānia haole [kikania haole]

Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Stout, malodorous, erect annual herbs.

Stems: Stems branched above, glabrous or sparsely pubescent with simple hairs.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Alternate. Blades rhomboid to angularly ovate, leaves often 8–16 cm long, 4–10 cm wide. Apex acute to acuminate. Base oblique, rarely equal. Margins coarsely doubly lobed. Petioles 3–11 cm long. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers solitary in stem forks, peduncles 6–10 mm long, pedicels stout, 7–20 mm long, actinomorphic. Flowers bisexual (perfect). Calyx angularly tubular, 5-lobed, 3–4.5 cm long, the lobes 0.6–0.8 cm long. Corolla white or tinged lavender, 5-lobed, the lobes rounded, 6–9 cm long, separated by sinuses and terminated by a pointed tip. Stamens 5; anthers white or purple, 3–4 mm long, opening by slits; filaments inserted in lower 1⁄2 of corolla tube; anthers dithecal, basifixed. Ovary superior, 2-celled; style 4–5.5 cm long; stigma 2.5 mm long, 2 mm wide, included.

Fruit: Capsules erect; narrowly ovoid to ovoid; 2.5–4 cm long; 2–3 cm wide; opening by 4 valves when ripe; the valves 6–10 mm long; covered with numerous conical spines of various lengths; the persistent" calyx base 4–10 mm long; reflexed; margins irregular. Seeds numerous; black or dark brownish gray; angularly D–shaped; 3–4 mm long; coarsely pitted; embryo curved; endosperm present.

Ploidy: 2n = 21–25; 48

Habitat: Naturalized in dry; disturbed sites.

Elevation Range: 0–690 m.

Historical Distribution

Uses and Culture

USES

  • Yes

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kaua'i Naturalized
O'ahu Naturalized
Molokai Naturalized
Lana'i Potentially naturalizing
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Notes

  • Entire plant toxic, containing several alkaloids that can affect the central nervous system

Bibliography

Name Published In: Sp. Pl.: 179 (1753)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:1257 (K, O, Mo, M, H); Faccenda, Arthur, et al. 2025:213 (L)

Poisonous Plants of Paradise (Scott and Thomas) p.91

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Datura stramonium Koko Head, near beach among kiawe trees Preserved_Specimen Neal, M.C. Oahu BISH 1933-06-11
2 Datura stramonium unknown Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. BISH
3 Datura stramonium Koko Head Preserved_Specimen Octavio, A.M. Oahu BISH 1929-11-28
4 Datura stramonium Kaalualu Bay near South Point, NW end roadside areas and pastures Preserved_Specimen Flowers pale purple to white, plant up to 1 m high Whistler, W.A. 48 Hawaii BISH 1972-04-06
5 Datura stramonium Waialua, near Post Office silty loam Preserved_Specimen shrub to 3' tall; white trumpet flower, prickly green fruit. Afualo, D. 164 Oahu BISH 1975-04-04
6 Datura stramonium land of Makakupaia; west side of One Alii Park drainage ditch Preserved_Specimen weed. Herb with erect pale purple flowers Herbst, D.R. 5734 Molokai BISH 1976-03-10
7 Datura stramonium Kalaupapa; Waihanau, old rock quarry mixed open non-native scrub Preserved_Specimen 0.5 m herb; reddish succulent stems, bluish tubular corolla Wysong, M.L. 803 Molokai BISH 2005-10-12
8 Datura stramonium Wahiawa roadside weed Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 24509 Oahu BISH 1956-04-04
9 Datura stramonium Waianae Mts., mouth of Ekahanui Gulch pineapple field Preserved_Specimen weed. Erect herb to sub-shrub. Foliage green with purple petiole and midrib. Flowers pale purple. Herbst, D.R. 5273 Oahu BISH 1975-04-08
10 Datura stramonium Along old Palehua Rd (rock crusher access rd.) Extremely dry locality. Preserved_Specimen 1.8m tall x 2m diam. shrub; flowers light blue color. Hobdy, R.W. 4208 Oahu BISH 2005-06-22
11 Datura stramonium Koloa, Eleele, Kauihaka Gulch near radio tower in abandoned coffee field, #220 Preserved_Specimen 30-40 cm herb, erect; stem and petioles fleshy, purple tinged; tube greenish basally, purple distally; open flower pale purple Kaneshige, C. Kauai BISH 2004-06-28
12 Datura stramonium Vacant lot between Malakole Ave. & deep draft harbor. Campbell Industrial Park, Ewa Preserved_Specimen Flrs blue-purple. Nagata, K.M. 3952 Oahu BISH 1989-01-28
13 Datura stramonium Land of Makakupaia Growing in drainage ditch on west side of Alii Park Preserved_Specimen Herb with erect pale purple flowers Herbst, D.R. 5734 Molokai BISH 1976-03-10
14 Datura stramonium South Kohala District. Collected east of Queen Kaahumanu Highway between Mauna Lani Drive and Puako turn off Dry area with scant vegetation; open grassland with scattered Prosopis pallida. Preserved_Specimen Funk, E.J. Hawaii BISH 1991-02-04
15 Datura stramonium Near Lanai Airport at Pulama Lanai Quarantine Unit behind shade houses. Associated species include Digitaria insularis, Verbesina encelioides, Amaranthus spinosus, and Waltheria indica. Preserved_Specimen Bogner, K. Lanai BISH 2019-07-05
16 Datura stramonium Behind west end of PMRF along cane road to Polihale State Park In area disturbed by dozing. Preserved_Specimen Flynn, T.W. 2244 Kauai BISH 1987-07-14
17 Datura stramonium North Kona District, Puuanahulu Ridge edge directly above Mamalahoa Highway Preserved_Specimen Herb to about 3 ft. tall with erect, pale purple flowers. Herbst, D.R. 5478 Hawaii BISH 1975-09-23
18 Datura stramonium Makaleha Preserved_Specimen weed. Erect herb; pale purple, spined capsule Bryan Jr., E.H. 690 Oahu BISH 1929-01-13
19 Datura stramonium Honolulu, cor. University and Metcalf Sts Preserved_Specimen fls. lavender, plant bad-smelling Neal, M.C. Oahu BISH 1931-01-02
20 Datura stramonium Moanalua Valley Preserved_Specimen Bryan, W.A. Oahu BISH 1903-12-13
21 Datura stramonium Honolulu, cor. University and Metcalf Sts Preserved_Specimen fls. lavender, plant bad-smelling Neal, M.C. Oahu BISH 1931-01-02
22 Datura stramonium Honualani Preserved_Specimen bush, 1 m. tall; are stem and flower purple? Handy, E.S. Maui BISH 1933-06-06
23 Datura stramonium North Kona District, Puuanahulu Ridge edge directly above Mamalahoa Highway Preserved_Specimen Herb to about 3 ft. tall with erect, pale purple flowers. Herbst, D.R. 5478 Hawaii BISH 1975-09-23
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