• Topics: Agronomy  | Weeds in Florida (SP 37)  |  Solanaceae (taxonomic family)  |  Peanut Weeds  | Weed Management in Cotton  |  Ferrell, Jason A  |  Hall, David W  | Vandiver, Vernon V 

Jimson Weed, Datura stramonium L.¹

Classification

• Common Name: Jimson Weed

• Scientific Name: Datura stramonium L.

• Family: Solanaceae, Nightshade Family

Seedling

The cotyledons are narrow, long (24 mm) and pointed (Figure 1). The leaves are alternate, somewhat heart-shaped, especially at the base, with smooth edges. The stem and leaf petioles are purplish in color.

Figure 1. 

Seedling, Jimson Weed (Datura stramonium L.)

Mature Plant

Jimson Weed is an annual, 5-15 cm tall. The stems are smooth, green, hollow and branching (Plate: mature plant ). The leaves alternate on stout leaf stalks, and are large, ovate and 7-15 cm long, with margins irregularly cut and toothed. The flowers are white and solitary on short stalks in the forks of the branches: the corolla is trumpet shaped, 7-10 cm long, 5 cm wide at the mouth, and 5-lobed; and the stamens, five in number, are attached to the tube slightly below the middle. The fruit is a spiny, ovoid, green, 4-celled capsule about 5 cm long. The fruit develops rapidly, splitting open at the top when mature. The seeds are many, dark brown, wrinkled and pitted on the surface.

Figure 2. 

Mature plant, Jimson weed (Datura stramonium L.)

History

The generic name Datura is taken from the Arabic name for this plant, Dhatura. The Latin species name stramonium is the old generic name for this genus. The word is thought to be from struma which means swollen.

Habitat

This weed is found in cultivated and disturbed areas throughout the southeastern United States, and throughout temperate and tropical areas of the world.

Biology

Seeds from this weed responded to GA3 at a concentration of 10-2 with germination of 36%, while Thiorea at 10-3 increased the germination to 35%. Seeds were found to germinate at a rate of 12% when prepared in a water-agar solution. All parts of this plant are poisonous.

Control

Peanuts

Pursuit, Strongarm or Valor applied preemergence will all control jimsonweed, but Strongarm is the most effective and consistent option. At cracking, paraquat + Basagran is highly effective, more so than paraquat applied alone. Additionally, postemergence applications of Basagran, Ultra Blazer, Storm, or Cadre are all highly effective and will routinely provide >90% control.

Cotton

Cotoran and Karmex applied preemergence will often give good control of jimsonweed. Postemergence applications of Staple or glyphosate are extremely effective on jimsonweed. Additionally, most all postdirected herbicides will provide 90% or greater control of jimsonweed.

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U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Millie Ferrer, Interim Dean.

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