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Datura

(Science: botany) a genus of solanaceous plants, with large funnel-shaped flowers and a four-celled, capsular fruit.

The commonest species are the thorn apple (D. Stramonium), with a prickly capsule, white flowers and green stem, and D. Tatula, with a purplish tinge of the stem and flowers. Both are narcotic and dangerously poisonous.

Origin: NL.; cf. Skr. Dhattra, Per. & ar. Tatra, Tatla.