Friday, July 20: This is today’s WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge: Inside.
Inside. I like to snap multiple views of something and often the inside of something is even more interesting than the outside.
One day while hiking on Jebel Akhdar, my Omani friend Moo plucked a spiny egg-shaped seed capsule about the size of a walnut and opened it up. Inside were a bunch of seeds which he told me have hallucinogenic properties.
inside of datura stramonium, also known as Jimson weed or “loco weed”
This is apparently called datura stramonium, an invasive weed also known as Jimson weed, datura, or “loco weed.”
the plant on Jebel Akhdar
This plant, which grows wild all over Oman, especially on Jebel Akhdar, and other warm and moderate regions worldwide, has been used for centuries as herbal medicine to relieve asthma symptoms or as an analgesic during surgery or bone-setting. It is also a powerful hallucinogen, used spiritually for the intense visions it produces. Datura intoxication can lead to delirium, hyperthermia, tachycardia, bizarre behavior and even pronounced amnesia.
I think this is the same plant with the trumpet-shaped flower in Wekan. On this one I don’t see any of the seedpods….
Its careless use has led to hospitalization and even death.
The fragrant trumpet-shaped flowers bloom through the summer, and the walnut-sized spiny seed capsule splits into four chambers at maturity to reveal dozens of black seeds.
good story and photos, you give a real feeling of the plant!
Loco weed…aptly named!
yes, don’t you just love it?
Si; great post.
This plant’s family includes the potato, tomato and eggplant, and yes, the very-dangerous jimsonweed of the usa and the lovely datura,/angel’s trumpet/queen of the night with its intoxicating evening fragrance. Read some trivia about jimsonweed, and stories of its dangers go back to Colonial times. I’m told that a drug is made from the plant and is used to drug unsuspecting people (via drinks or even on the surface of cards, telephones, money) The person absorbs the drug then appears to be fine but is in sort of a daze… ie: ‘give me you money..’ what? ok! “what’s you pin number” oh it’s ____. “let’s go to the atm and withdraw some money.” oh, ok…
apparently they ‘wake up later and find they’ve been robbed.
so i am told. i’m also told, ‘don’t even think of joking around with this plant. sme people take trips on it and never return to normal.’
a milder cousin to this plant in the nightshade famiily has a small green berry that is very effective in treating athlete’s foot. rub the juice on the area(foot/toes) several times a day, and it is usually cured in 24 hours. This I know first hand and it works every time for me!
of course the even-milder cousins are the tomato, potato and eggplant.. i eliminated potatoes from my diet and also eliminated arthritis-like pain in my joints! go figure – our bodies try to communicate with us if we will just listen and find the trigger.
Z
Wow Z! Thank you for adding so much more information to my post. I had read all of this, but was trying to keep it short; however, it’s all interesting stuff so I’m glad you added it!! It is very interesting. Strange about how you eliminated potatoes and eliminated arthritis pain. I would think since the family is related to analgesics, that would have the opposite effect. But I’m certainly no medical expert and what do I know!! Thanks so much for your great addition…
Thank you as well, and enjoy the holiday as you count off the days left for your own special break!
Thanks for the warning….. just in case I ever come across one of these capsules and am tempted to taste the seeds.
Interesting info and great pics too.
That was really interesting. Such a small seed to do so much damage.
Thank you! Yes, you’re right about that! Thanks too for visiting my blog!!
Well done…
Thank you Galen!
Loco weed… interesting. Have you tried it?!?
Yes, it is interesting, but no, I haven’t tried it! I’ve never been into experimenting with these kinds of things, not even when I was younger!!
You could have had interesting visions to share
Pingback: Weekly Photo Challenge: Inside – The Courgette (Zucchini) Flower « My 2012 Photo Challenge
Pingback: Weekly Photo Challenge: Inside « Ruth E Hendricks Photography
Great photos of an interesting food item.
PErfect for the challenge. Shall keep the warnings in mind
Thanks Madhu! I certainly won’t be ingesting any of these!!
thank u to share the first pic i have seen it but it was close did not open, the name of it in arabic is funny kind of (swaying plant) as out tour guide said
you can see my pic in my blog – but it is all in Arabic
http://www.layal7.blogspot.com/
Yes, I saw the closed “loco weed” in your blog! Thanks for sharing and thanks for visiting my blog!
Great photos – and very educational too!
Thank Elaine! I guess we all should stay away from that “loco weed!”