Jimson weed

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Jimson weed

The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition | 2008 | The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Copyright 2008 Columbia University Press. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Jimson weed or Jamestown weed, large, coarse annual plant ( Datura stramonium ) of the family Solanaceae ( nightshade family), native to warm-temperate and tropical regions of the New World, but long widely distributed and often weedy. This and other species of the genus contain a narcotic poison, stramonium, similar to that of the related belladonna, that has been used by many peoples for various purposes, e.g., as a medicine (now chiefly inhaled for the relief of asthma or applied externally as a painkiller) and in the past as a poison and an instrument for obtaining prophetic dreams or messages in various tribes. The amusing antics of soldiers in colonial Virginia who ate Jimson weed have been recorded for history. Stramonium, comprised of several alkaloids (e.g., scopolamine , atropine , and hyoscyamine), may also be obtained from some other species of Datura. Scopolamine is used as a sedative. Jimson weed is classified in the division Magnoliophyta , class Magnoliopsida, order Polemoniales, family Solanaceae.

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jimson weed

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English | 2009 | © The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English 2009, originally published by Oxford University Press 2009. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

jim·son weed / ˈjimsən/ (also jimpson weed) • n. a strong-smelling poisonous datura (Datura stramonium) of the nightshade family, with large, trumpet-shaped white flowers and toothed leaves.

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Free newspaper and magazine articles

Free Article Jimson weed poisoning - Texas, New York, and California, 1994.
Newspaper article from: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report; 1/27/1995
Free Article Nathan, Jimson Weed.(Brief Article)(Sound Recording Review)
Magazine article from: Sing Out!; 1/1/2005
Free Article All about nightshades: explore the hidden hazards of your favorite food with macrobiotic nutritionist Lino Stanchich.
Magazine article from: New Life Journal; 4/1/2003

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Related articles from newspapers, magazines, and more

Jimson weed poisoning - Texas, New York, and California, 1994.
Newspaper article from: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report; 1/27/1995; 700+ words ; Ingestion of Jimson weed (Datura stramonium), which contains...religious purposes. All parts of the Jimson weed plant are poisonous, containing the...atropine, hyoscyamine, and scopolamine. Jimson weed--also known as thorn apple...
POLICE: JIMSON WEED SEEDS SICKEN DODGE COUNTY TEENS.(LOCAL)
Newspaper article from: Wisconsin State Journal (Madison, WI); 10/14/2006; 700+ words ; ...authorities said had consumed jimson weed, was taken to the...also for reaction to jimson weed. Several hours after...had been hiding in the weeds when police arrived earlier...the house who had taken jimson weed. Among them was a 17...
Thorn apple and jimson weed
Newspaper article from: Jerusalem Post; 8/14/2008; ; 589 words ; ...another species of datura called jimson weed, datura zekufat pri in Hebrew...to Moshav Gimzu. To reach the jimson weed, turn left toward Moshav Gimzu...continue for another 400 meters. The jimson weeds are on your left. For more photographs...
12 teens treated for ingesting jimson weed.
Newspaper article from: The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, Virginia) (via Knight-Ridder/Tribune Business News); 10/28/2005; 700+ words ; ...been no other reports of jimson weed overdoses in Virginia...state Health Department. Jimson weed is a smelly, inconspicuous...just about any place weeds become budding nuisances...trumpet and Jamestown weed, for the place where...centuries ago and got sick. Jimson weed ...
Jimson weed turns lethal for partygoer
Newspaper article from: The Sun, San Bernardino, Calif.; 8/13/2006; 497 words ; ...hallucinogenic properties. But this weed was even more of a risk than...smoked. Under the influence of jimson weed, a highly toxic plant...marijuana plants don't go after jimson weed as well. She has a point...after ingesting a lethal dose of jimson weed, found growing wild ...
JIMSON SENDS 5 TEENS TO HOSPITAL THEY HAD EATEN SEEDS FROM THE TOXIC WEED, APPARENTLY FOR ITS NARCOTIC EFFECT.(LOCAL/WISCONSIN)
Newspaper article from: Wisconsin State Journal (Madison, WI); 10/3/2002; ; 700+ words ; ...seeds of a poisonous plant called jimson weed, a member of the deadly nightshade...said. Two of the boys had bags of Jimson weed seeds with them. The hospital...police have not come in contact with jimson weed, which is not illegal. Doug...
Jimson weed suspected in Pueblo hospital cases
Newspaper article from: The Gazette; 10/16/1999; ; 417 words ; ...Pueblo have learned that a common weed can pack a dangerous - and potentially...suspected of having consumed jimson weed were admitted to St. Mary...suspicion, he added, is that the jimson weed, which can be abused as...three of the patients consumed jimson weed, he said, and ...
Jimson weed sickens 5 teens
Newspaper article from: Post-Tribune (IN); 10/12/2005; ; 700+ words ; ...behaving erratically after ingesting jimson weed seeds Monday night in the Winfield...all recuperating," Higgins said. Jimson weed, or "locoweed," is a wildflower...was hanging at when they ate the jimson seeds said they were all lucky Swindle...
JIMSON WEED HIGH HAS DIRE CONSEQUENCES.(LIFE & LEISURE)
Newspaper article from: Albany Times Union (Albany, NY); 1/27/1995; 642 words ; ...drinking a poisonous tea made from jimson weed or eating its seeds, the federal...to ban cultivation of the plant. Jimson weed, also known as thorn apple...Control Centers received 318 reports of jimson weed poisoning. There is no antidote...
OFFICIALS WARN OF JIMSON WEED
Newspaper article from: Dayton Daily News; 10/12/2004; ; 569 words ; ...a toxic hallucinogenic weed led police and health...dangers of the common jimson weed. `It is very dangerous...Cron said. Cron said the jimson weed can be found in bean...along with where jimson weed can be found locally...more information on the jimson weed can ...
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