Family: Solanaceae
Datura leichhardtii
Citation:
F. Muell. ex Benth., Fl. Aust. 4:468 (1868).
Synonymy: D. leichhardtii F. Muell., Trans. Phil. Soc. Vic. 1:20 (1854), nom. nud.
Common name: Native thornapple.
Description:
Stout bushy annual herb 0.2-1.2 m tall, glabrous or sparsely pubescent with non-glandular hairs; leaves rhombic to angularly ovate, 5-8 x 2-4.5 cm, regularly serrate or sinuate with 4-7 entire rounded lobes.
Flowers 4-7 cm long; corolla cream, sometimes pink-tinged towards the limb; lobes 5, not separated by sinuses, the intervening tissue developed into 5 further angular lobules; stigma level with or below the anthers.
Capsule deflexed, globose to broadly ovoid, 2-2.5 x 2-2.5 cm (excluding the spines), breaking irregularly; spines numerous, slender, sharp, of variable length but evenly distributed, the longest less than half the length of the capsule; seeds pale-brown, sometimes greyed, 4-4.8 mm long.
| Flowering branch, spreading corolla lobes, fruit and seed.
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Image source: fig. 562C in Jessop J.P. & Toelken H.R. (Ed.) 1986. Flora of South Australia (4th edn).
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Published illustration:
Everist (1981) Poisonous plants of Australia, pl. 38.
Distribution:
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Widespread on river systems of northern (arid) parts of the State, usually in sandy alluvial soil; populations usually scattered.
S.Aust.: NW, LE, GT, FR, EA, EP. W.Aust.; N.T.; Qld; N.S.W. Endemic to Australia unless D. pruinosa Greenm. from Mexico and Guatemala is regarded as a subspecies. Generally considered native but possibly an early introduction from Central America.
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Conservation status:
native
Flowering time: summer.
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SA Distribution Map based
on current data relating to
specimens held in the
State Herbarium of South Australia
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Biology:
No text
Author:
Not yet available
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