“Devil’s weed” is a common, ambiguous name for several plants, often causing confusion. Precise identification is important due to the potential dangers of certain species. Common names vary regionally, making it challenging to pinpoint a specific plant. Understanding the true identity of a plant known as “devil’s weed” is crucial, especially as some are highly toxic.
The Plant Most Commonly Known as Devil’s Weed
The plant most commonly identified as “devil’s weed” is Datura stramonium, also known as Jimsonweed or thornapple, a species belonging to the Solanaceae, or nightshade, family. Believed to originate in Central America, it has spread globally and naturalized in warm and temperate regions. Jimsonweed thrives in disturbed soils, found along roadsides, in pastures, and waste areas. Historically, Datura stramonium was used in traditional medicine and rituals, sometimes for hallucinogenic properties, despite its toxicity. The name “Jimsonweed” reportedly derives from “Jamestown weed,” referencing a 17th-century incident where British soldiers were poisoned in Jamestown, Virginia.
Identifying Devil’s Weed: Key Characteristics
Datura stramonium is an annual herbaceous plant, growing as an erect, bushy specimen 3 to 6.5 feet tall. Its stems are green or purplish, and are smooth or minutely hairy. The plant often emits an unpleasant odor when its leaves are crushed. Leaves are dark green, hairless, ovate to elliptical, 3 to 8 inches long, with unevenly toothed or lobed margins.
Jimsonweed produces large, trumpet-shaped flowers, 4 to 5 inches long, white to pale purple. They typically open in the evening with a strong fragrance and close by morning. After flowering, Datura stramonium develops a distinctive fruit: a large, cylindrical, spiny capsule, sometimes called a “thornapple.” These capsules are 2 to 2.5 inches long and contain numerous seeds. The fruit splits into four valves when ripe, releasing the seeds.
The Dangers of Devil’s Weed: Toxicity and Effects
All parts of Datura stramonium are toxic, with the highest concentration in its seeds. The plant contains potent tropane alkaloids like atropine, scopolamine, and hyoscyamine. These compounds act as anticholinergics, disrupting the nervous system. Ingestion or improper handling can lead to serious symptoms in humans and animals. Initial signs include dry mouth and skin, dilated pupils, impaired vision, and a rapid pulse.
As toxicity progresses, individuals may experience confusion, disorientation, hallucinations, and agitated delirium. Severe cases can escalate to convulsions, coma, and fatal respiratory or cardiovascular complications. Animals typically avoid fresh Jimsonweed due to its unpleasant taste; however, poisoning can occur if it contaminates hay or silage. Children are particularly susceptible, as small amounts can cause profound central nervous system disturbances. Any suspected ingestion requires immediate medical attention.
Other Plants Called “Devil’s Weed”
While Datura stramonium is the most common “devil’s weed,” the term also applies to other problematic or aggressive plants. One example is Chromolaena odorata, known as Siam weed or bitter bush. Native to Central and South America, it is an invasive species in many tropical regions, including Hawaii.
Chromolaena odorata earns its “devilish” moniker from its aggressive growth and ecological impact. It forms dense thickets, outcompeting native vegetation by shading and releasing growth-inhibiting toxins into the soil. Each plant produces hundreds of thousands of wind-dispersed seeds annually, spreading rapidly and establishing monocultures that reduce biodiversity. This plant is also toxic to livestock.