DATURA STRAMONIUM

FAMILY :: SOLANACEAE
JIMSON WEED, THORNAPPLE: An upright, very strongly scented annual bush with large dark green leaves and many 3-4″ white flowers. This is the Datura that is hated by farmers and ranchers because it can cause poisoning in livestock and spreads very easily from seed. I like it.

The Algonquin Tribe of North America used this plant as the chief ingredient in a potion called wysocean that was given to adolescent boys for 18-20 days continuously to initiate them into manhood. They were supposed to unlive their childhood, becoming men by forgetting they had ever been boys. Modern American culture is sorely lacking in male initiation rites, but I don’t think I’m ready to recommend this one.