prickly customer for ID

UB4 gardener · #1 (**permalink**) 14-10-2008, 08:42 PM

found this prickly fruited plant in my garden and have no clue as to where to start to look for the ID. Could be a bird seed escape where it's located. Any help appreciated.

Chris

Susie · #2 (**permalink**) 14-10-2008, 08:49 PM

Did it have flowers at any point? Big trumpet looking things? I assume the prickly things are seed pods? They remind me an awful lot of Datura (not that I am saying that that is what it is as I wouldn't have expected that to be so nibbled on the leaves unless the critters wanted a trip).

UB4 gardener · #3 (**permalink**) 14-10-2008, 08:56 PM

it did have tubular flowers. looks good. ta

Susie · #4 (**permalink**) 14-10-2008, 08:59 PM

That's Hecate's Herb. You have to watch it, because all parts of it are posionous. In small quantities it can be hallucinagenic.

Superstition says that it is what witches took to enable them to fly.

Gypsy Orchid · #5 (**permalink**) 14-10-2008, 09:01 PM

Hi UB4 Gardener Yes it is Datura stramonium Thorn Apple Could have come from the bird seed It very pionous and quite rare I have only seen it growing wild twice.

Susie · #6 (**permalink**) 14-10-2008, 09:03 PM

Hi Gypsy Orchid, thanks for the proper name for this one.

I have grown the cultivated variety (or one of them anyway). It was very pretty but I didn't like it cos it make my skin prickle, and that was without me touching it!

Susie · #7 (**permalink**) 14-10-2008, 09:19 PM

It did get the odd insect on it but nothing to make it worth growing again.

Gypsy Orchid · #8 (**permalink**) 14-10-2008, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Susie

Hi Gypsy Orchid, thanks for the proper name for this one.

I have grown the cultivated variety (or one of them anyway). It was very pretty but I didn't like it cos it make my skin prickle, and that was without me touching it!

Hi Susie
It is in the Nightshade family so this could account for it I have an Astrantia in my garden which seems to bring me out in in a rash if I go near it although I have never read read anything about it having this effect but it is in the Umbellifer family so could be like Giant Hogweed .

Susie · #9 (**permalink**) 14-10-2008, 09:37 PM

That's interesting about the Astrantia, thanks for the warning. I have that in the garden so I shall remember to treat it with caution.

My Dad has developed an allergy to parsnip leaves, of all things. If he touches wet pasnip leaves his hands swell up and have a horrible rash. Sometimes the rash will travel right up his arms. After several days to a week the rash will go down and the skin peels away. It's awful and I am just hoping I don't ever develop the same sort of thing so, although I am a mad keen gardener, I am careful around plants I don't think will be good for me.