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Datura stramonium

Datura stramonium

9.9
A tall yearly weed with strong-smelling leaves and white or purple trumpet flowers that is very poisonous
  • noun
  • /dəˈtʊrə strəˈmoʊniəm/
  • Specialized
translation icon : datura estramonio
  • The seeds of Datura stramonium are highly toxic and should never be ingested.

Examples

  • Researchers discovered that Datura stramonium contains compounds used historically in traditional medicine, though it is extremely dangerous.

  • Many rural fields are invaded by Datura stramonium during the late summer.

  • The Datura stramonium plant is known for its toxicity.

  • Many gardeners avoid planting Datura stramonium due to its poisonous nature.

  • The seeds of Datura stramonium are extremely poisonous and can cause severe illness if eaten.

  • Many gardeners avoid planting Datura stramonium because its leaves and flowers contain deadly toxins.

  • In some areas, Datura stramonium is considered a dangerous weed due to its highly toxic properties.

Synonyms

common thorn apple
vsDatura stramonium
9.9

A tall poisonous plant with bad-smelling leaves, large trumpet-shaped flowers, and spiky fruit

is the scientific name for the same plant
jimson weed
vsDatura stramonium
  • US
9.9

A tall plant with large trumpet-shaped flowers and poisonous leaves and fruits

is specified as a tropical weed rather than a general annual plant
Jamestown weed
vsDatura stramonium
  • US
9.9

A poisonous tropical plant with big trumpet-like flowers, prickly fruits, and leaves that smell very bad

notes height and annual growth rather than just smell

Surface Forms

Morphology

Datura + stramonium

This is a Latin binomial (a proper name) identifying a particular species of the genus Datura. A B1 learner who knows 'Datura' can infer it is a type of Datura plant, but 'stramonium' is not an English lexical item and does not contribute a predictable descriptive meaning (height, habitat, toxicity) to the phrase. The construction is therefore partly informative (species-of relation) but not fully compositional or immediately interpretable, so semi-transparent is appropriate.

Etymology

Datura stramonium has big trumpet-shaped flowers and round, spiky seed pods that hide many tiny, dangerous seeds. People long ago used the plant in old medicines and rituals and sometimes had strange visions or became very sick, so the plant became known as 'poisonous'.