Thorn-apple

[lout has presence]

can anybody help this is growing outside our work on waste land, and no one has ever seen this before the spines on the seed pod are really sharp and hard and the seeds look like poppy seeds. if you can help i would be very grateful.

[agrumpycow]

Originally Posted by lout has presence

can anybody help this is growing outside our work on waste land, and no one has ever seen this before the spines on the seed pod are really sharp and hard and the seeds look like poppy seeds. if you can help i would be very grateful.http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/ga...M0526Small.JPG

A picture of the plant would help Poppy seeds are a lot smaller than those.

[Deer Stalker]

Hi, welcome to WAB.

Any chance of a pic of the plant itself?

[lout has presence]

[ariane]

it looks like a specimen of Datura sp. (Datura stramonium?), a (poisonous) weed with globose prickly fruits, like in your pic.

[AlanS]

Originally Posted by ariane

it looks like a specimen of Datura sp. (Datura stramonium?), a (poisonous) weed with globose prickly fruits, like in your pic.

Yes indeed, it is a Thorn-apple, Datura stramonium. A member of the nightshade family and very poisonous.

It is an alien in Britain, usually casual but sometimes becomes established in warm places on sandy soils. It recently celibrated its centenary at a site up here in SW Scotland. (Well, to be honest, the plant didn't seem to celebrate much, but I went and patted it.)

By the way, it is quite rare in most areas and your county botanical recorder may well be interested in the record.

Alan

[aeshna5]

A plant I seem to be seeing more frequently as casual around the London area.

[lout has presence]

thanks to you all, and may i say what a great site this is

[hippies4ever]

Just dug one of these things up....growing in clay soil so very adaptable...websites say it is poisonous to humans and pets...worth reading up on. Never seen one before so no idea where it came from.

[Dorts]

The seeds of Thorn Apple can remain fertile in the soil for many years, just waiting for someone or something to bring them to the surface, where, if conditions are right, they will germinate and grow, and all being well, produce seed for the cycle to start over in years to come.
Dorts.