Re: [gardeners] moonflowers / Jimson Weed
David G Smith (gardeners@globalgarden.com)
Mon, 1 Oct 2001 14:29:59 -0400
Horse nettle, or something similar?
http://www.delawarewildflowers.org/solanum_carolinense.html
David
----- Original Message -----
From: <flylo@txcyber.com>
To: <Gardeners@globalgarden.com>
Sent: Monday, October 01, 2001 1:50 PM
Subject: [gardeners] moonflowers / Jimson Weed
> I have an awful weed (about a trillion zillion of them) growing in the
> goat lots, horse fields, etc. Anywhere you stir the soil these things
> pop up. I call them Jimson Weed's evil cousin. They're a form of
> datura but not the big angel trumpet flowers. They have little white
> quarter-sized flowers and the plant is covered in thorns, even the
> underside of the leaves have thorns. They're awful! Goats nor
> anything else will touch them, but the true angel's trumpet (Jimson
> Weed) the goats will devour. I can't tell if they get high from the
> experience,they're nutty goats after all.
> Moonflowers: I grew these in Houston when I was a teenager and
> the seeds are almost bean or pea sized and black. You have to
> either abrade them or soak them before they sprout and one vine
> will cover a big porch. The leaves are huge and flowers are saucer
> sized but don't have the 'trumpet' stem portion like Jimson weed.
> The first hint of cold and they wilt away leaving a big ugly dead
> messy vine. Mine reseeded with a white seed and they were
> infertile so maybe the plant needs 2 to pollinate?
> Morning glory has heart shaped leaves but it's a small leaf
> compared to moonflowers. Little known fact: Morning glory root is
> made into an essential oil called 'High John The Conqueror', and is
> a wonderfully floral scent. (I use it in a lot of my milk soaps.)
> The stuff runs about $12 per 1/4 oz, I always feel so guilty when I
> pull the vines up! martha
>