A genus of solanaceous plants. Several species (D. arborea, D. fastuosa, D. ferox, and D. sanguinea) are used in Brazil, India, and Peru to produce unconsciousness. The seeds contain hyoscine (scopolamine), an alkaloid with an anticholinergic action similar to that of atropine. [Hind.]
- D. metel D. fastuosa L. var. alba; a species that contains scopolamine as its chief alkaloid and traces of hyoscyamine and atropine.
- D. stramonium a species that is the main source of stramonium. SYN: Jamestown weed, jimson weed, stink weed, thorn apple.
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1) cap a genus of widely distributed strong-scented herbs, shrubs, or trees of the family Solanaceae including some used as sources of medicinal alkaloids (as stramonium from jimsonweed) or in folk rites or illicitly for their poisonous, narcotic, or hallucinogenic properties
2) any plant or flower of the genus Datura
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Da·tu·ra (da-tooґrə) a genus of plants of the family Solanaceae; several species contain the anticholinergic alkaloids hyoscyamine and scopolamine.Medical dictionary. 2011.