Talk:Datura stramonium

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This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, now in the public domain.

	Datura stramonium is within the scope of WikiProject Plants, an attempt to better organize information in articles related to plants and botany. For more information, visit the project page.
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What about that "book excerpt"? That the standard procedure for such things, or is there a better way? Thanx 68.39.174.150 00:42, 27 Apr 2005 (UTC)

This article has a lot of good information, but I believe the layout to be a little funky: there is a lot of history of accidental colonial poisonings, but no description of the habitat of where it is found. There are constant references to the use as a hallucinogen, but no references on how it propagates itself. What I would propose is that there is a general new format for this article: it would start off with a general description of the plant, describing its appearance and mentioning its history of usage. Then there is a section called "Cultivation and uses". In this section there would be a description of the habitat and range of Datura stramonium as well as reference to the shamaic usages of it. Then there can be a section called "Effects" in which the physiological and subjective effects of Jimsonweed are described, as well as a strong warning against any recreational use. The article can then end with the "History" section, in which the colonial anecdotes can be organized.

This is only my idea for a restructuring the article, if no one objects to it, I will start working on it shortly. Muggwort17 14:49, 20 November 2005 (UTC)

Go for it. It needs it. 8)--Rockero 02:14, 1 December 2005 (UTC)

Possible Additional info for this article

I remember reading an article about the effects of using Jimsonweed as a hallucinogen, but I don't remember where I read it. It gave an anecdote of a German college student who, while in a Jimsonweed-induced delirium, severed his own tounge and genitals with gardening shears. Again, I don't remember where I read this, but if someone could find that kind of information, It would benefit this article. Kazhivlad 00:09, 7 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] I added some info, and a question

I'm surprised the article didn't mention anything about the plant's amazing tendency for the flowers to open and close at night, so I added it. That trait's earned it the nickname "Moonflower." However, I don't live anywhere near this plant (though I am fascinated by it) so my info may be a little off...could any "locals" fix that if I'm wrong?

Also, the article incorrectly stated that all parts of the plant produced a fould oder when crushed or bruised. This is not true with the leaf of the plant; when bruised, it produces a smell extreamly similar to that of penut butter. I changed that in the article, but if it still should say "foul" (I don't know why anyone'd call penut butter foul, though) then please change it.

Well, foul is subjective, I also, if I remember correctly, footnoted that piece of information. What's more I one time found a datura stramonium plant, and did crush up a leaf and smell it. The smell was of night shade, not peanut butter. I know original research isn't allowed, but I am going to change back the part about smells and put the footnote back. Muggwort17 15:02, 14 January 2006 (UTC)

Mostly a poor article; please cite individual experiences from Erowid, otherwise leaving the reader to assume it to be the result of scientific study.

00:16, 29 May 2006 (UTC)Rashad9607

[edit] "Zombie's Cucumber"

Many different sources list jimson weed as "Zombie's Cucumber" due to the effects caused by datura. Even though the research used to verify datura as a component of so-called zombie powder, the nickname of the jimson weed is listed on various websites, just google the phrase "Zombie's Cucumber", and many reliable sources of information will have pages listed.

RedDragon501

Saying "google it" is no longer considered adequate sourcing for material - if you have an actual reliable reference for this (not just some lamer's personal website), it should be added to the references section. Stan 20:02, 19 January 2006 (UTC)

[edit] capitalisation

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Datura_stramonium&diff=167156916&oldid=167105961 -- since when are common names of plants proper nouns? --BranER —Preceding comment was added at 20:32, 27 October 2007 (UTC)

BranER would actually appear to be correct on this, however word's such as Beelzebub would still be capitalized.

See: http://www.sc.edu/webpresence/editorial_guide/capitalization.html

76.177.69.127 (talk) 13:21, 17 February 2008 (UTC)

For example morning glory, hummingbird vine, iron weed, honeysuckle, creeping phlox would not be capitalized. Names such as Canadian thistle, St. John's wort, and English ivy, would maintain the capitalization of the proper nouns. The common names of animals and plants are not "proper nouns." 76.177.69.127 (talk) 14:13, 17 February 2008 (UTC)