Datura stramonium

Datura stramonium (Linn)

Leaves, Seeds, Fruit

It is a large coarse annual herb stem is stout erect and leafy Branching repeatedly in forked manner. Leave are large and angular with a wavy and coasrly toothed margin, which are arranged alternately. From the axils of the leaves or forked branches the white, funnel shaped flowers are arising. Fruit are oval spiny capsule, which consist of many egg shaped black seeds.

It is found in lower areas of Gilgit/Baltistan.

The whole plant is poison, but the seeds are the most active, neither drying nor boiling destroys the poison properties. The plants are strongly narcotic, but have a peculiar action on the human frame, which renders it very valuable as a medicine. Leaves are applied to boils, sores and fish bite. Juice of flower is used in earache. Leaves and seeds are narcotic, antiseptic and anodyne. Fruit is sedative and intoxication. Juice of fruit is applied to scalp to cure dandruff and falling hairs.