Ingestion of Jimsonweed caused the mass poisoning of soldiers in Jamestown, Virginia in 1676. Jimsonweed toxicity is caused by tropane alkaloids. Most common Datura species. Grows to 4' with white flower and or purple and produces a prickly seedpod. Not sold for consumption.
Some species are annuals, others, especially the cultivated species, are deciduous shrubs.
All species are poisonous, noxious weeds. In ancient herbal medicine, Jimsonweed was used internally to treat madness, epilepsy, and melancholy. Externally, it formed the basis of ointments for burns and rheumatism. More recently, preparations from the plant have been used as ingredients in some asthma medicines. With this exception, however, plant is generally considered too toxic for medical applications nowadays.