Datura stramonium in white and dark green

This Datura stramonium is based on an illustration from D. Vicente Martin de Argenta’s 1863 book ‘Album de la flora médico-farmacéutica é industrial, indígena y exótica’, or ‘Album of the medicinal-pharmaceutical and industrial flora, native and exotic’. The plant is variously known as Thornapple, Jimsonweed, and Devil’s Trumpet. Many of the common names for Datura species overlap; more than one is known as Devil’s Trumpet.

Consuming any part of the plant can kill you, although first it will cause hallucinations, gastrointestinal symptoms, fever, seizures, and coma. The scent can even cause respiratory irritation, headaches, nausea and light-headedness. Death comes from respiratory depression and tachycardia.

It was reportedly used by settlers on Jamestown Island in Virginia to incapacitate British soldiers brought in to quell a rebellion in 1676. The soldiers survived, but only after 11 days of wild and uncontrolled behaviour. This incident gave the plant the name ‘Jamestown Weed’, which was eventually shortened into Jimsonweed.

My Datura stramonium is 4.75 inches tall, stitched by hand on 5x7 inch 100% cotton watercolour paper, which means that it will pop right into any commercial frame in that size, and be ready to hang on your wall.

Materials: Japanese and Korean papers, glass beads, and cotton floss on cotton paper.