Definition

Noun 1. A highly toxic, tall, coarse annual tropical weed: This plant is characterized by its foul-smelling foliage, large white or violet trumpet-shaped flowers, and fruit covered in sharp spines. Its scientific name is Datura stramonium.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The field was overrun with common thorn apple, its spiny pods posing a danger to livestock.
  • Despite its beautiful trumpet-shaped flowers, common thorn apple is intensely poisonous.
  • Botanists study common thorn apple due to its rapid growth and invasive nature in tropical and subtropical regions.

Advanced Usage

• "Datura stramonium": This is the formal botanical (Latin) name for the common thorn apple, used in scientific contexts.
  • The alkaloids found in Datura stramonium have been used historically in some medicinal practices, but with extreme caution due to their toxicity.

Variants and Related Words

• Jimsonweed (n): A common alternative name for the same plant (), widely used in North America.
  • Farmers are familiar with jimsonweed as a problematic weed in cornfields.
• Thornapple (n): A general term that can refer to plants in the genus, which includes the common thorn apple.
  • Several species of thornapple are known for their hallucinogenic and toxic properties.

Synonyms

• Jimsonweed: The most common synonym.
• Devil's snare: A folk name referencing its dangerous, trapping nature.
• Stinkweed: A name referring to its rank-smelling foliage.
• Jamestown weed: A historical name with origins in colonial America.

Notes on Meaning

The term "common thorn apple" refers specifically to one distinct, poisonous plant species. It should not be confused with edible plants that may have "apple" in their name or with other, non-toxic thorny plants. The "thorn" refers to the spiny fruit, and "apple" is a historical term for any round fruit or seedpod.

Noun

1. intensely poisonous tall coarse annual tropical weed having rank-smelling foliage, large white or violet trumpet-shaped flowers and prickly fruits