jimsonweed

noun

jim·​son·​weed ˈjim(p)-sən-ˌwēd 

often capitalized

: a poisonous tall annual weed (Datura stramonium) of the nightshade family with rank-smelling foliage, large white or violet trumpet-shaped flowers, and roundish prickly fruits

called also thorn apple

Examples of jimsonweed in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Another dangerous plant is jimsonweed, which can cause hallucinations, seizures and respiratory failure if consumed. —Tiffany Acosta, The Arizona Republic, 5 June 2024

Another highly poisonous desert plant is jimsonweed, also known as devil's snare or thornapple. —Tiffany Acosta, The Arizona Republic, 5 June 2024

Ruis is suing the CHRB for absolving Baffert of a positive for scopolamine, a byproduct of jimsonweed, after Justify tested for the drug after winning the 2018 Santa Anita Derby. —Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2021

This looks like jimsonweed (Datura stramonium), also called thorn apple because of its spiky fruit. —oregonlive, 5 Oct. 2019

Their hunt, which was meant to shed light on the religious and ritualistic history of smoking, had already yielded tobacco and jimsonweed residue in pipes dating back a few hundred years. —Michael Price, Science | AAAS, 15 June 2018

Word History

Etymology

Jamestown, Virginia

First Known Use

1832, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

jimsonweed

noun

jim·​son·​weed ˈjim(p)-sən-ˌwēd 

often capitalized

: a tall poisonous weed that is related to the potato and has bad-smelling leaves, large white or violet trumpet-shaped flowers, and a prickly fruit

Medical Definition

jimsonweed

noun

jim·​son·​weed

variants also jimpsonweed

ˈjim(p)-sən-ˌwēd 

: a poisonous tall annual weed of the genus Datura (D. stramonium) that has rank-smelling foliage, large white or violet trumpet-shaped flowers, and prickly round fruits and that is a source of stramonium

called also Jamestown weed