Datura ferox L., Solanaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  Reject, score: 21 (Go to the risk assessment)

Common name(s): [more details]

English: angel's-trumpets, false castor-oil, fierce thorn-apple, large thorn-apple, long-spine thorn-apple, long-spur thorn-apple

Habit:  herb

Description:  "Stout annual herb, glabrous or sparsely pubescent with non-glandular hairs.  Mature leaves from broadly-ovate and somewhat angular to rounded-triangular, the lamina up to 14 cm long and 16 cm wide, with a few shallow usually toothed or sinuate lobes.  Calyx to 3.5 cm long, 5-lobed, the lobes 4-7 mm long.  Corolla 4-6 cm long, white, 5-lobed, the lobes ending in a point 1-2 mm long.  Stamens not exserted; anthers 3-4 mm long.  Style c. 3 cm long; stigma below anthers. Capsule ellipsoid or nearly so, to 4 cm long, erect, spiny; spines usually 40-60, stout, conical, sharp, usually longer near capsule summit, the longest at least half length of capsule; persistent base of calyx to 8 mm long. Seeds 4-5 mm long, black or grey"  (George, 1982; pp. 182-183).

"Herbacée à arbrisseau annuel atteignant 1,5 m de hauteur, reconnaissable à ses grandes fleurs solitaires de couleur blanchâtre et ses fruits secs (capsules) à grandes épines" (Meyer, 2008; p. 31).

Habitat/ecology:  In Australia, "a weed of waste ground and disturbed areas in agricultural and pastoral districts; often a serious weed of summer grain crops in Queensland and New South Wales" (George, 1982; pp. 182-183).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  "Native to China but now widely distributed in warm regions of the world"  (George, 1982; pp. 182-183).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Chile (offshore islands) Rapa Nui (Easter) Island	Rapa Nui (Easter) Island (Isla de Pasqua)	introduced invasive cultivated	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2008) (pp. 31, 42) "Nous avons observé un bosquet d’individus épars en bordure de piste entre Tahai et Ahu Tepeu, poussant sur un monticule de gravats et de terre" (Meyer, 2008; p. 31).
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive	Tassin, Jacques (2005)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 130) Voucher cited: MacKee 39048 Spontané

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia Australia (continental)	Australia (continental)		Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (p. 120)
Japan Japan	Japan	introduced	Mito, Toshikazu/Uesugi, Tetsuro (2004) (p. 188)
New Zealand New Zealand	New Zealand (country)	introduced invasive cultivated	Webb, C. J./Sykes, W. R./Garnock-Jones, P. J. (1988) (p. 1124) "In and near gardens, uncommon with some occurrences originating from imported birdseed".
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Chile (Republic of)		Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (p. 120)

Control:  "L’arrachage manuel des plants et éventuellement la lutte chimique par pulvérisation d’un herbicide sur les tiges et les feuilles (à base de glyphosate) sont réalisables" (Meyer, 2008; p. 31).