Datura fastuosa L.

As noted and discussed by A.G. Avery et al., the taxonomy of D. metel is very confused, and it is reasonable to follow Schoenbeck-Temesy in using the name Datura fastuosa and considering D. metel as nomen confusum. The species can be distinguished from Datura innoxia mainly by the glabrous nature, the short spines or tubercles of the capsule and corolla which is often purplish suffused and double.

Plant 40-100 cm or more tall, branched, glabrescent. Leaves 7-18 x 7-12 (-16) cm, broadly ovate, sinuate to obtusely dentate or acutely so, cuneate or oblique, glabrescent. Petiole up to 9 cm long, slender. Flowers often double or triple. Calyx 5-8 mm long, tubular, half as long as corolla or less, minutely pubescent; lobes 6-11 mm long, ovate to triangular, acute or acuminate. Corolla 11-17 cm long, trumpet-shaped, white, purple or yellowish inside; lobes 5-10 in number, ovate-acuminate or cuspidate, minutely pubescent especially on the nerves. Anthers 12-15 mm long. Capsule 35-40 mm broad, globose, nodding, tuberculate or spines not exceeding 3 mm in length. Seeds 4-5.5 mm, subreniform, compressed, minutely reticulate, brown.

Distribution: Tropical and subtropical regions of Asia. The Mediterranean, Africa and America.

Fl. Per.: September-April.