Datura Metel 'Mranaha'

Solanaceae: Fast growing annual to 60-180cm. Large white trumpets flushed purple, followed by knobby purple pods. Dark purple stems. Dark green leaves. Originally collected on the island of Unguja, Zanzibar, by the renowned plant collector Richo Cech.

USES:

An important medicinal and religious plant in the Old World, sacred to Buddhists, Taoists, and Hindus. In china, the white-blossomed Datura metel var. alba was sacred because it was believed that shimmering dew drops had rained from the heavens onto its flowers while the Buddha was giving a sermon. The Chinese Buddhists called it man-t’o-lo, after a non-translatable passage from a sutra named man t’o lo hua. In ancient china, it apparently was popular too steep the aromatic flowers in wine or sake before consumption.

The whole plant, but especially the leaves and seed, have anaesthetic, anodyne, antiasthmatic, antispasmodic, antitussive, bronchodilator, hallucinogenic, hypnotic and mydriatic properties. It has a wide range of applications in India, including in the treatment of epilepsy, hysteria, insanity, heart diseases, fever with catarrh, diarrhoea, skin diseases.

NOTE: caution is advised in the use of this plant since excess doses cause hallucinations, severe intoxication and death. The toxic dose is very close to the medicinal dose, so this plant should only be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner.

GROWING INFORMATION:

Aged seed germinates in 2 - 6 weeks warm, fresh seed needs GA3 [Gibberellic acid]. Start indoors for early. Best in deep, well manured soil, heat and full sun. Not frost hardy.

NOTES: Germinated in 6 - 7 weeks with GA3 for me.

HARVESTED.

 
APPROX. 20 SEEDS