Any gardeners/botanists on here?
14 August 2005, 10:37 AM
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Any gardeners/botanists on here?
A few months ago, a neighbour gave my wife a cutting of a plant they had growing in their garden. At the time, this thing looked like a small stick with a leaf on it but now, it has grown so much it is over 5 feet tall and we can hardly get past it on our balcony! No-one has any idea what it is, not the neighbour who gave the cutting to my wife nor anyone else who has seen it (we're not gardeners as gardeners go). The picture below shows the flowers on the plant -- these things are like trumpets and are about a foot long 
Any ideas as to what this is? I only hope it's not carnivorous!!!
Any ideas as to what this is? I only hope it's not carnivorous!!!
14 August 2005, 12:28 PM
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Gymbal, you are absolutely spot on!!! Thank you very much indeed for the identification. I looked up some sites on google and found other pics of the plant. Question now is do we get rid of it if it's as toxic as I've read about. It's an amazing looking thing and last night at about 2am the flowers were fully extended -- huge things!
14 August 2005, 12:29 PM
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BRUGMANSIA
Reads Nursery are National Collection Holders. of Citrus - Figs - Grapevines, for the National council for conservation of plants and Gardens N.C.C.PG.
BRUGMANSIA.
(Datura)
Angels trumpets. A family of exotic looking shrubs with large trumpet shaped flowers heavily scented in the evening and night.
Plants are best grown as small standards and pruned back (pollarded) to the top of the stem each year after flowering.
They require copious water and feed in summer and may be stood outside from June-September. They need frost protection in winter. Harmful if eaten.
Reads Nursery are National Collection Holders. of Citrus - Figs - Grapevines, for the National council for conservation of plants and Gardens N.C.C.PG.
BRUGMANSIA.
(Datura)
Angels trumpets. A family of exotic looking shrubs with large trumpet shaped flowers heavily scented in the evening and night.
Plants are best grown as small standards and pruned back (pollarded) to the top of the stem each year after flowering.
They require copious water and feed in summer and may be stood outside from June-September. They need frost protection in winter. Harmful if eaten.
14 August 2005, 12:36 PM
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FYI the alkaloid in question is atropine, famous for being the key component in Belladonna 'Deadly Nightshade'.
Why get rid of it? It can't harm you unless you ingest it.
Why get rid of it? It can't harm you unless you ingest it.
14 August 2005, 12:39 PM
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Thanks Nick. That certainly explains why our plant has grown so rapidly -- we give it about a litre of water every day...compared to our neighbours plant which has been relying mostly on rainfall which we haven't seen much of over here this year.
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14 August 2005, 01:45 PM
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LOL@scoobychick!
My wife is against getting rid of it and we've warned the kids not to take bites out of it so it looks like we'll be keeping it although I'm a bit concerned at the rate it's growing! Anyone passing near me and wanting cuttings just give me a shout -- at this rate the balcony will be out of bounds by the end of the summer! I might take a couple of pictures tonight when the trumpets come out to their full extent...it really is wicked looking!
My wife is against getting rid of it and we've warned the kids not to take bites out of it so it looks like we'll be keeping it although I'm a bit concerned at the rate it's growing! Anyone passing near me and wanting cuttings just give me a shout -- at this rate the balcony will be out of bounds by the end of the summer! I might take a couple of pictures tonight when the trumpets come out to their full extent...it really is wicked looking!
15 August 2005, 11:09 AM
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A few snapshots from last night when the flowers opened up. The yellow curly bit in the first one is the view from the end of an as yet unopened flower.
