Is the red spider lily poisonous? Medicinal benefits of the red spider lily and the risk of poisoning from eating it
The red spider lily, which often appears in novels, is a flower with rich symbolism and extremely vivid colors. In most people's eyes, the red spider lily is full of mystery, so there are many questions about it, such as: is the red spider lily poisonous? It is understood that the red spider lily is poisonous, but as long as you do not eat it, it is fine
The red spider lily, which often appears in novels, is a flower with rich symbolism and extremely vivid colors. In most people's eyes, the red spider lily is full of mystery, so there are many questions about it, such as: is the red spider lily poisonous? It is understood that the red spider lily is poisonous, but as long as you do not eat it, it is fine. Moreover, the benefits and effects of the red spider lily are astonishing: it not only has high ornamental value, but can also treat illnesses. Let's take a look together!
1. Is the red spider lily poisonous? Yes
Friends who have seen the red spider lily must be deeply impressed by it, because its color is simply too vivid. In daily life, the more beautiful a plant is, the more poisonous it tends to be, so is the red spider lily poisonous? According to the editor's research, although the red spider lily is highly ornamental, its rhizome is poisonous and can cause symptoms such as vomiting and spasms, and has a clear effect on the central nervous system, so it must not be eaten casually.
Why the red spider lily is poisonous: it contains alkaloids
The reason the red spider lily is poisonous is that it contains toxic substances called alkaloids, mainly lycorine and colchicine. The specific harms are as follows:
1. Lycorine: it can be used medically to induce vomiting, so people who accidentally eat the red spider lily will show symptoms of vomiting.
2. Colchicine: a highly toxic and carcinogenic substance. In biology, colchicine is what is used to induce gene mutations and chromosome doubling.
However, although the red spider lily is poisonous, we do not need to fear its poison, because the poison of any plant acts through ingestion, so as long as you do not eat it, you will never be poisoned. So many people around the world keep red spider lilies, and have you ever heard of anyone being poisoned?
2. Benefits and effects of the red spider lily
There is no doubt that the red spider lily is poisonous, but this does not affect our normal cultivation, and the red spider lily not only has high ornamental value, but also has astonishing medicinal value and can be used as an anti-cancer drug. In today's society where people turn pale at the mention of cancer, the red spider lily can fight cancer, so its effect can be imagined. There are many more benefits and effects of the red spider lily, as follows:
1. Ornamental value
When it comes to the benefits and effects of the red spider lily, the first thing everyone thinks of is certainly its ornamental value. The color of the red spider lily is very bright, a pure red, and with a little red flower also blooming, they set each other off and look very pleasing. Combined with the legends of the red spider lily, its presence can be seen at many flower exhibitions.
2. Horticultural value
The red spider lily is a common garden ornamental plant in Southeast Asia. Its leaves are enjoyed in winter and its flowers in autumn. It is an excellent bulbous herbaceous flower, and when used in gardens it will become a beautiful scenic line. Not only that, the red spider lily can also be used as flowerbed or flower border material, and is also one of the important materials for cut flowers.
3. Medicinal value
In addition to ornamental use, the red spider lily also has strong medicinal value and can be used as an anti-cancer drug. Not only that, the red spider lily also has a significant effect on polio. Special research has already been carried out abroad, and our country is now also beginning to study the medicinal effects of the red spider lily. As for the specific medicinal effects, simply put, there are the following points:
① Diuresis and emesis
The bulb of the red spider lily is pungent in taste, warm in nature, and slightly toxic, but at the same time it can detoxify, resolve phlegm, promote urination, and induce vomiting. It is generally used to treat sore throat, edema; difficult urination, carbuncle swelling and sore poison, scrofula, cough with phlegm and asthma, and food poisoning.
② Sore throat
The bulb of the red spider lily contains the alkaloid lycorine poison, which can cause symptoms such as vomiting and spasms, and has a clear effect on the central nervous system, but through industrial extraction, medicinal substances beneficial to humans can be extracted. It mainly treats sore throat, carbuncle swelling and sore poison, scrofula, nephritic edema, venomous snake bites, and so on.
③ Detoxification and insect killing
The bulb of the red spider lily contains more than ten kinds of alkaloids, including lycorine, pseudolycorine, pretazettine, lycoremine, and galanthamine; it has effects such as detoxification, phlegm resolution, diuresis, emesis, and insect killing.
In the eyes of many people, the red spider lily is too vivid and looks unlucky. However, as long as we get to know it properly, we will find that the red spider lily is a very good flower worth growing. If you are tempted, you may want to look at the cultivation methods for the red spider lily; they will be useful to you. The above is all the content about whether the red spider lily is poisonous. We hope it can help everyone.
Datura flower Datura stramonium L. Datura flower illustrated guide: how to grow Datura flower / how to propagate Datura flower
Datura flower profileDatura flower Datura stramonium L.
Aliases: drunken-heart flower, dog walnut, drunken immortal peach, mad eggplant, South Seas golden flower, mountain eggplant, phoenix eggplant flower, Korean morning glory, foreign golden flower, maple eggplant flower, ten-thousand peach flower, noisy goat flower, wild hemp seed
Classification: annual herbaceous flower
Family and genus: Plantae, Angiosperms, Dicotyledoneae, Solanales, Solanaceae, Datura
Full bloom period: all four seasons
Datura is also called foreign golden flower, large trumpet flower, mountain eggplant, etc. It is native to India, with a flowering period from May to September and a fruiting period from June to October, and it prefers warm, sunny, and well-drained sandy loam. It mostly grows wild in fields, beside ditches, along roadsides, on riverbanks, on hillsides, and other places, and mainly harms cotton, beans, potatoes, vegetables, and so on. The common species in our country include Datura stramonium, Datura innoxia, and Datura metel, and the flowers are all white or slightly pale yellow-green, single-petaled. Datura is also called mandala, manda, manzha, manda, drunken-heart flower, dog walnut, foreign golden flower, maple eggplant flower, ten-thousand peach flower, noisy goat flower, foreign golden flower, large trumpet flower, mountain eggplant, etc. It mostly grows wild in fields, ditches...
Cultivation methods and precautions for Datura flower. Introduction to Datura flower
Datura is also called foreign golden flower, large trumpet flower, mountain eggplant, etc. It is native to India, with a flowering period from May to September and a fruiting period from June to October, and it prefers warm, sunny, and well-drained sandy loam. It mostly grows wild in fields, beside ditches, along roadsides, on riverbanks, on hillsides, and other places, and mainly harms cotton, beans, potatoes, vegetables, and so on. The common species in our country include Datura stramonium, Datura innoxia, and Datura metel, and the flowers are all white or slightly pale yellow-green, single-petaled.
Datura is also called mandala, manda, manzha, manda, drunken-heart flower, dog walnut, foreign golden flower, maple eggplant flower, ten-thousand peach flower, noisy goat flower, foreign golden flower, large trumpet flower, mountain eggplant, etc. It mostly grows wild in fields, beside ditches, along roadsides, on riverbanks, on hillsides, and other places, and is native to India. It is freely translated as round flower, white cluster flower, agreeable flower, pleasing flower, and so on. Datura is native to the tropics and subtropics, and is distributed in all provinces of our country. It prefers warm, sunny, and well-drained sandy loam. It is widely distributed throughout the country. It mainly harms cotton, beans, potatoes, vegetables, and so on.
Datura (common name) maple eggplant flower (Shanghai); dog walnut (Yunnan); ten-thousand peach flower (Fujian); foreign golden flower (Shandong); wild hemp seed, drunken-heart flower (Jiangsu); noisy goat flower (Guangdong); Saisihataken (Uyghur language); Shasihadona (Kazakh language); Tumute Zhanggu (Inner Mongolia).
The whole Datura plant is poisonous, with the fruit, especially the seeds, being the most toxic, followed by the young leaves. The toxicity of dried leaves is less than that of fresh leaves.
Morphological characteristics of Datura flower
The stem of Datura flower is thick and upright, and the plant height is 50-150 cm. The whole plant is smooth and hairless, sometimes with sparse hairs on young leaves.
The leaves are broadly ovate, with regularly wavy shallow lobes at the edges, and the base is often skewed. The flowers are solitary in the leaf axils, with a funnel-shaped corolla, 7-10 cm long, the tube part pale green, and the upper part white; sometimes there are sparse hairs on young leaves. The upper part often forms dichotomous branching. The leaves are alternate, the blades broadly ovate, with irregular wavy shallow lobes or sparse teeth at the edges, with long petioles, and sparse short pubescence on the veins.
The stem is upright and stout, and the main stem is often woody. The flowers are solitary in the leaf axils or at the branch forks; the calyx is tubular with 5 toothed lobes, and the corolla is funnel-shaped, white to purple. The capsule is upright, with hard spines on the surface, and ovate. The seeds are slightly flat and kidney-shaped, and dark brown.
Datura flower is a wild upright woody annual herbaceous plant in the Solanaceae family. In low-latitude areas it can grow into a subshrub, and the plant height is generally between 50 cm and 200 cm, with the root already woody. Datura flower has alternate simple leaves, and the upper part is opposite, with ovate or broadly ovate blades, pointed tips, asymmetrical bases on both sides, and entire or broken, wavy serrated edges. The flower buds of Datura flower emerge between the leaf forks, and the flowers are trumpet-shaped. Most flower colors are white, with a length of about 4 cm to 10 cm. The fruit of Datura flower is spherical, with spines on the outer shell surface, and when the fruit matures it splits into 4 valves. The seeds are broadly triangular, flat, and light brown.
Datura flower is herbaceous or semi-shrub-like, 0.5-1.5 m tall, and the whole plant is nearly smooth or has short pubescence on young parts. The stem is stout, cylindrical, pale green or purplish, and the lower part is woody. The leaves are broadly ovate, with acuminate tips, asymmetrical wedge-shaped bases, irregular wavy shallow lobes at the edges, and the lobe tips are acute, sometimes also with wavy teeth, with 3-5 lateral veins on each side reaching the lobe tips, 8-17 cm long and 4-12 cm wide; the petiole is 3-5 cm long.
The flowers are solitary between branch forks or in leaf axils, upright, with short pedicels; the calyx is tubular, 4-5 cm long, with 5 angles on the tube, slightly sunken inward between the two angles, slightly enlarged at the base, tightly surrounding the corolla tube at the top, 5 shallowly lobed, with triangular lobes, breaking near the base after flowering, and the persistent part enlarging with the fruit and reflexing outward; the corolla is funnel-shaped, greenish in the lower half, white or pale purple in the upper part, with the limb 5 shallowly lobed, the lobes with short pointed tips, 6-10 cm long, and the limb diameter 3-5 cm; the stamens do not extend beyond the corolla, the filaments about 3 cm long, and the anthers about 4 mm long; the ovary is densely covered with soft needle hairs, and the style is about 6 cm long. The capsule is upright, ovate, 3-4.5 cm long and 2-4 cm in diameter, with hard needle-like spines on the surface or sometimes spineless and nearly smooth, pale yellow after maturity, and regularly 4-valved. The seeds are ovate, slightly flat, about 4 mm long, and black.
The flowering period of Datura flower is June to October, and the fruiting period is July to November. The flowering period of Datura flower is very long; as long as the temperature is suitable, it can bloom all year round. The flowering period of wild-grown Datura flower is between May and September, and the fruiting period when the fruit matures is between June and October.
Datura flower is woody or semi-woody in the tropics, and an annual upright herbaceous plant in temperate regions. Simple leaves are alternate, flowers are bisexual, the corolla is trumpet-shaped, five-lobed, more or less labiate, and some are double-petaled; there are 5 stamens, all developed, inserted on the corolla tube; 2 carpels, 2 locules; axile placentation, with many ovules. Capsule.
The calyx breaks in a ring near the base when in fruit, and only the base remains. The stem is stout and upright, and the main stem is often woody. The plant height is 50-150 cm, and the whole plant is smooth and hairless, sometimes with sparse hairs on young leaves. The upper part often forms dichotomous branching. The leaves are alternate, the blades broadly ovate, with irregular wavy shallow lobes or sparse teeth at the edges, with long petioles. There is sparse short pubescence on the veins. The flowers are solitary in the leaf axils or at branch forks; the calyx is tubular with 5 toothed lobes, and the corolla is funnel-shaped, white to purple. The capsule is upright, with hard spines on the surface, and ovate. The seeds are slightly flat and kidney-shaped, and dark brown. The flowers are solitary in the leaf axils, the corolla is funnel-shaped, 7-10 cm long, the tube part pale green, and the upper part white; those with a purple tinge on the corolla are purple-flowered Datura. The flowering period is summer and autumn. Propagation is by sowing.
Ecological habits of Datura flower
Datura (foreign golden flower) has strong adaptability, prefers a warm, humid, and sunny environment, fears waterlogging, and is not very strict about soil requirements. It can be planted in general soil, but soil rich in humus and lime is better. The seeds germinate easily, the suitable germination temperature is about 15°C, the germination rate is about 40%, and it takes about 60 days from emergence to flowering. After frost, the aboveground part withers, and when the temperature is below 2°C, the whole plant dies. The annual growth period is about 200 days. Datura prefers a warm and humid climate and a sunny place, and requires loose, fertile, and well-drained sandy loam. It is mostly cultivated in greenhouses as an ornamental flower. It is an annual herb, and in low-latitude areas it can grow into a subshrub. It grows in wasteland, dry land, beside houses, on sunny hillsides, at forest edges, and in grasslands. It often grows on sunny hillside grasslands or beside residences.
Cultivation techniques for Datura flower: key cultivation points
Biological characteristics: it prefers a warm and humid climate. The seeds begin to germinate at about 5°C; when the temperature is below 2-3°C, the plant dies. Cultivation is suitable in sunny, loose, fertile, and well-drained sandy loam. Continuous cropping is avoided. The previous crop should not be a Solanaceae plant.
Cultivation techniques
1. Site selection and land preparation: choose sunny, fertile, and well-drained land, plow 30 cm before winter, and apply 2000 kg of barnyard manure or farmyard manure per mu combined with plowing, then harrow finely and level. After the beginning of spring, plow once more, break up the clods, rake finely and level, and make flat beds 1.5 m wide.
2. Propagation method: use seed propagation. In early April, on the bed, open holes 3 cm deep at a spacing of 60 cm x 50 cm, sow the seeds, 5-6 seeds per hole, cover with 1 cm of soil, press slightly, and keep moist. The seed rate is about 1 kg per mu. If raising seedlings for transplanting, it is suitable in late May to transplant and set out.
Field management
When the seedlings are 10-12 cm tall, thin and fill in the seedlings, leaving 1-2 strong seedlings per hole, and combine with cultivating and weeding and applying human and animal manure water once. When the seedlings are 33 cm tall, cultivate and weed again, topdress once, and earth up to prevent lodging. In the early stage of topdressing, nitrogen fertilizer is mainly used, and in the later stage, nitrogen fertilizer is applied together with phosphorus and potassium fertilizer, achieving light application first and heavy application later, which is beneficial for increasing the total alkaloid content. For seed retention, select the seeds from the fruit set on the first branch of the main stem, take out the seeds, wash them with water, and dry them in the sun.
Propagation methods of Datura flower
Datura flower is commonly propagated by seeds.
Seed propagation
Collect mature fruits at the end of the flowering period, take the seeds, and sow in early April.
Propagation by seeds, either by direct sowing or by raising seedlings and transplanting. Direct sowing method: carry out from late March to mid-April, with a row spacing of 43 cm x 33 cm, sow 6-7 seeds per hole, and use 7.5 kg of seed per 1 hm2. Seedling raising and transplanting method: in intercropping or relay-cropping fields, or when the previous crop is not yet mature, in order to economically use the land, sow and raise seedlings in March, and transplant in early to mid-May when the seedlings have 4-6 true leaves.
Cutting propagation
Take young shoots with buds and insert them into fertile soil for cuttings.
Disease control of Datura flower: Datura verticillium wilt
Symptoms
The leaves of infected plants turn yellow between the lateral veins, then gradually turn brown, and die from the leaf edges, while the veins remain green. The leaves gradually yellow and wilt from bottom to top. When the diseased stem is cut crosswise, the vascular bundles are dark brown. In some cases only 1-2 branches are affected. Severely affected plants cannot set fruit.
Control methods
1) Carry out crop rotation.
(2) When necessary, before the disease occurs, irrigate with 50% thiophanate-methyl or carbendazim wettable powder at 600-700 times dilution.
Black spot disease
It causes blackened leaves. The lesions are nearly circular, 2-14 mm in diameter, initially pale brown, gradually becoming grayish brown, and finally turning brown, with concentric rings. When the air is humid, pale black mold-like material grows on the lesions. In severe cases, the lesions merge into patches, and local death occurs, and it can also harm the capsules. Control methods: clean the garden in autumn, burn the diseased plant residues, and reduce the source of inoculum. It can also be sprayed with 75% chlorothalonil at 500-600 times dilution or compound chlorothalonil at 500 times dilution in the early stage of the disease.
Tobacco budworm
The larvae harm the flower buds and flowers of Datura, especially the flower buds. The larvae bore into the interior of the flower buds and chew the pistils and stamens, causing the flower buds and flowers to rot quickly and affecting flower yield.
Green peach aphid
It can be controlled with 40% omethoate emulsifiable concentrate at 1000 times dilution.
Ladybird beetle
Adults and larvae feed on the leaves of Datura. The damaged leaves retain only the veins and upper epidermis, forming many irregular transparent sunken lines that then become brown spots. Too much damage can cause the leaves to wither.
Control methods
① Manually catch adults, taking advantage of the adults' death-feigning habit, and use a basin to catch them by tapping the plants to make them fall;
② Manually remove egg masses. Female insects lay eggs in concentrated clusters, with bright colors, very easy to find and easy to remove;
③ Apply pesticide before the larvae disperse. It can be sprayed with 50% phoxim emulsion at 1000 times dilution, or 40% fenpropathrin emulsifiable concentrate at 3000 times dilution, or 2.5 times deltamethrin emulsifiable concentrate at 3000 times dilution.
Variety classification of Datura flower
Besides herbaceous Datura flower, there is also woody Datura. Woody Datura and herbaceous Datura belong to the same family and genus, and are generally shrubs or small trees. Unlike herbaceous Datura, the flower tube of woody Datura is longer and can grow to 20-35 cm. The flowers droop, are fragrant, and the fruit is woody and does not split. Because the flower shape is graceful, like a trumpet, its English name is Angel's Trumpet.
This species includes the three species usually recorded in some literature, and their differences can be made into the following key: among these three species, some also treat the latter two as varieties of the former, namely: purple-flowered Datura D. stramonium L. var. tatula Torrey; spineless Datura D. stramonium L. var. inermis (Jacq.) Schinz et Thell. In recent decades, many botanists around the world have conducted comprehensive experimental taxonomic research on the herbaceous species of this genus, proving that whether the flowers are white or purple and whether the fruit surface is spiny or spineless is merely a difference between a pair of dominant and recessive genes. They are genetically unstable and also meaningless in evolution. In fact, these types are also variable in nature. The author in the Xining area of Qinghai Province, China, likewise saw that among many plants growing with purple flowers and spiny fruits, there were also mixed plants with pale purple flowers and spineless, smooth fruit surfaces. Therefore, these types are naturally one species, and the earliest name is adopted: D. stramonium L.
Common species
Datura plants are tall, with huge and beautiful flowers, and are suitable as background material or for wild-interest gardens. There are about 16 species in the same genus, and commonly cultivated ones also include fragrant-flowered Datura (D. inoxia); red-flowered Datura (D. Sanguinen); white-flowered Datura (D. me-tel), and so on.
The common species in our country include Datura stramonium (D. stramonium L.), Datura innoxia (D. innoxia Mill.), and Datura metel (D. metel L.), and the flowers are all white or slightly pale yellow-green, single-petaled. In the place of origin there are also green, purple, red, blue, and double-petaled forms or cultivars.
The whole plant is highly toxic, and its leaves, flowers, and seeds can all be used as medicine. It is pungent in taste and warm in nature, and is analgesic, anesthetic, and relieves cough and asthma. It mainly treats cough and reversed qi with asthma, sores on the face, rectal prolapse, rheumatism, and traumatic injuries, and can also be used as an anesthetic. The main active ingredient of the mafeisan invented by the famous medical scientist Hua Tuo during the Three Kingdoms period was Datura.
Its fruit is called in folk terms: hehu'er eggplant.
Species 1 introduction
Scientific name: Datura L.
Morphology: woody or semi-woody in the tropics, and an annual upright herbaceous plant in temperate regions. Simple leaves are alternate, flowers are bisexual, the corolla is trumpet-shaped, five-lobed, more or less labiate, and some are double-petaled; there are 5 stamens, all developed, inserted on the corolla tube; 2 carpels, 2 locules; axile placentation, with many ovules. Capsule. The calyx breaks in a ring near the base when in fruit, and only the base remains.
Species: the common species in our country include Datura stramonium (D. stramonium L.), Datura innoxia (D. innoxia Mill.), and Datura metel (D. metel L.), and the flowers are all white or slightly pale yellow-green, single-petaled.
Species 2 introduction
Scientific name: Datura stramonium L.
Morphology: annual herb. The stem is stout and upright, generally 50 cm to 1 m tall in temperate regions, and grows into a subshrub up to 2 m tall in the tropics. The leaves are broadly ovate, with acuminate tips, asymmetrical wedge-shaped bases, irregular wavy shallow lobes at the edges, triangular lobes, and sparse short pubescence on the veins. The calyx is tubular, with 5 angles, 4-5 cm long; the corolla is funnel-shaped, 6-10 cm long, white or slightly purplish in the upper part; the anthers are 3-4 mm long. The capsule is upright, ovoid, 3-4 cm long, with hard short spines of varying lengths, and splits into four valves at maturity. The seeds are black.
Biological characteristics: annual herb, can grow into a subshrub in low-latitude areas. It grows in wasteland,
dry land, beside houses, on sunny hillsides, at forest edges, and in grasslands. The flowering period is June to October, and the fruiting period is July to November. Seed propagation.
Distribution and growth environment: widely distributed in temperate to tropical regions of the world; produced in all provinces and regions of our country. It often grows beside villages, roadsides, and grasslands.
Current distribution status in China: wild in all regions of the country. There is also a small amount of artificial cultivation for medicinal or ornamental use.
Introduction, spread, and problems: introduced into China as a medicinal plant at the end of the Ming Dynasty, recorded in the Compendium of Materia Medica (1593). It is a weed in dry land, orchards, and nurseries, or invades forest edges, roadsides, and grasslands. The whole plant contains alkaloids and is strongly toxic to humans, mammals, fish, and birds, with the fruit and seeds being the most toxic.
Uses: the leaves, flowers, and seeds used as medicine have the functions of relieving spasms, sedation, analgesia, and anesthesia; the seed oil can be used to make soap and mixed with paint.
Growth environment: all cultivated, propagated by seeds.
Collection and processing: collect flowers when they first open, collect seeds when they are fully mature, and collect the whole plant in summer and autumn for fresh use or drying in the sun.
Distribution areas of Datura flower
It is distributed in tropical and subtropical regions, and is commonly cultivated in temperate regions; in Taiwan, China, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, Guizhou, Liaoning, Hebei, and Henan, these provinces and regions are often wild. There is more cultivation in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Hubei, Sichuan, Shanghai, and Nanjing, and there is cultivation in other provinces south of the Yangtze River and in many northern cities.
Datura flower is native to India. At present it is widely distributed in temperate to tropical regions of the world. It grows in wasteland, dry land, beside houses, on sunny hillsides, at forest edges, and in grasslands. It is widely distributed on all continents of the world; it is distributed in all provinces and regions of our country. It often grows beside residences, roadsides, or grasslands, and is also cultivated for medicinal or ornamental use. The whole plant is poisonous! It contains hyoscyamine, is medicinal, and has the functions of relieving spasms, sedation, analgesia, and anesthesia. The seed oil can be used to make soap and mixed with paint.
Production area distribution
Datura is widely distributed in temperate to tropical regions of the world, and is produced in all provinces and regions of our country. Datura is also called foreign golden flower, large trumpet flower, mountain eggplant, etc. It mostly grows wild in fields, beside ditches, along roadsides, on riverbanks, on hillsides, and other places, and is native to India.
Datura is also called mandala, manda, manzha, manda, drunken-heart flower, dog walnut, foreign golden flower, maple eggplant flower, ten-thousand peach flower, noisy goat flower, foreign golden flower, large trumpet flower, mountain eggplant, etc. It mostly grows wild in fields, beside ditches, along roadsides, on riverbanks, on hillsides, and other places, and is native to India. It is freely translated as round flower, white cluster flower, agreeable flower, pleasing flower, and so on. Datura is native to the tropics and subtropics, and is distributed in all provinces of our country. It prefers warm, sunny, and well-drained sandy loam. It is widely distributed throughout the country.
Uses and purposes of Datura flower: home matching
Different people with different personalities also have different decorative styles for their homes. No matter how exquisitely and uniquely designed a room is, decorating it with some flowers and plants will never be a regrettable case of overdoing it, because each different type of plant presents a different posture and charm. Lively and spiritual flowers and plants will only make the room vivid and fresh, and while pleasing the eye, they further inspire our diverse creative inspiration and build our colorful life interests. However, when selecting plants, in addition to the owner's basic preferences, one should also consider whether the temperament of the plant matches the style of the home, so as to avoid incompatibility and the opposite effect.
If the toxicity of Datura is not considered, then Datura is actually also a good choice for matching home styles, because first, Datura has a fragrance, and second, Datura is vivid and enchanting, giving people a noble, gorgeous, uniquely tasteful, and distinctive decoration. It also carries a mysterious, holy, and romantic temperament, so Datura is suitable for British or French home styles; in addition, it is also suitable for Chinese classical decoration, especially for pastoral-style home styles, giving your home a feeling of being detached from the mundane world, uncompetitive, and mysterious.
However, planting flowers is not only to reflect the owner's taste, but more importantly to affect the home environment and the health of family members. After all, Datura is a highly toxic thing that can cause cancer and hallucinations. Therefore, Datura is not suitable for use in home decoration, but it can be planted in the courtyard, only taking care to prevent children and passersby from accidentally eating it or smelling its fragrance too closely, so as to avoid poisoning.
Medicinal or dietary therapeutic value of Datura flower
The medical information and health dietary therapy information on Huahua.com is for reference only and cannot be used as a basis for diagnosis or medical treatment. Any health problem should be consulted with professional medical personnel, and any disease treatment should follow a doctor's advice.
Ultimate flower-protecting task: love yourself, and start from reality and strictly follow a doctor's advice. For illness, do not be careless, do not delay, do not give up hope, face it bravely, use love to warm the silent world, and use your heart to care for the flower field within.
Medicinal information
[Medicinal parts]The flowers, seeds, leaves, and roots are used as medicine. Chinese medicine names: Yangjinhua, Datura seed, Datura leaf, and Datura root.
[Harvesting and Processing]Datura metel: During the full bloom period from late July to late August, pick the flowers between 4 and 5 p.m. and dry them in the sun; if it rains, they can be dried at 50-60°C for 4-6h. Datura seeds: Harvest in summer and autumn when the fruits are ripe; they can also be sun-dried and then the seeds extracted. Datura leaves: Harvest between July and August; use fresh, or sun-dry or oven-dry. Datura root: Dig up in summer and autumn, wash clean, use fresh or sun-dry.
[Main Constituents]The flowers contain hyoscine, hyoscyamine, and atropine.
[Pharmacological Effects]Datura metel acts on the central nervous system, affects pain perception, and interacts with neurotransmitters.
[Nature, Flavor, and Functions]Pungent, warm. Toxic. Calms and relieves cough; anesthetizes and relieves pain; relieves spasms and stops convulsions.
[Indications and Usage]Asthma and cough; cold in the epigastrium and abdomen; rheumatism and arthralgia; epilepsy; infantile convulsions; surgical anesthesia. Internal use: decoct in water, 0.3-0.5 g, preferably in pills or powders. If used as a cigarette for inhalation in divided doses, the daily amount should not exceed 0.5 g. External use: appropriate amount, decoct in water for washing; or grind into powder and apply as a poultice. Internal use should be cautious. Contraindicated for the weak.
1. For asthma: Datura flowers 2.5 qian, saltpeter 1 qian, Fritillaria cirrhosa 1 liang, Pinellia ternata (prepared) 8 qian, Lycopus lucidus 6 qian, Tussilago farfara 5 qian. Grind all together into a fine powder. Take 1 jin of old ginger, mash and squeeze out the juice. Mix the powder evenly with the juice, place in a covered teacup, seal tightly, steam over water for one hour, remove, mix evenly with 10 liang of cured tobacco shreds, place in a ventilated area, and air-dry until 70-80% dry (do not over-dry, as it may crumble easily), then store in a cigarette tin for later use. Each day, smoke it through a dry tobacco pipe or water pipe in the usual manner. (From *Surgical Thirteen Formulas*, "Asthma-Stopping Smoke")
2. For chronic infantile convulsions: Datura flowers 7 blossoms (weighing 1 zi), Gastrodia elata 2.5 qian, Scorpio (fried) 10 pieces, Arisaema erubescens (prepared), cinnabar, and frankincense 2.5 qian each. Grind into powder. Take 0.5 qian per dose, mixed with mint decoction. (*Imperial Pharmacy Formulas*)
Uses
The entire Datura plant is toxic, with the seeds being the most toxic. The main constituents of the flowers are hyoscyamine, scopolamine, and a small amount of atropine, and the main anesthetic component is scopolamine. Its effect is to relax muscles and suppress sweat gland secretion, which is why the ancients named the anesthetic made from this flower "knockout drug."
The Song dynasty text *Bian Que's Heart Book* states: "When a person cannot endure the pain of moxa cautery, taking this (Datura flower, etc.) causes unconsciousness without pain, and it does no harm." Li Shizhen of the Ming dynasty recorded in *Compendium of Materia Medica*: "In August gather this flower, in July gather hemp flower, dry in the shade, grind in equal parts into powder, take 3 qian mixed with hot wine, and shortly one becomes drowsy as if drunk. For incising sores and moxa cautery, one should take this first, and then will not feel the pain." Both emphasize its anesthetic effect. The "Mafeisan" anesthetic formulated by Hua Tuo during the Three Kingdoms period also contained Datura flower, and the folk "knockout drug" was also made from it.
Besides its anesthetic effect, Datura flower also has cough-relieving and asthma-calming properties, and can treat cold-type cough and asthma with little phlegm. However, whether used as an anesthetic or to treat cough and asthma, one must strictly follow a doctor's advice, otherwise poisoning will occur.
Modern Research
Chemical Constituents
1. Datura alba
The seeds contain hyoscyamine, scopolamine, cycloeucalenol, 31-norlanost-9(11)-enol, 31-norlanost-8-enol, norlanosterol, obtusifoliol, 4α-methylcholest-8-enol, lophenol, and citrostadienol.
The seed oil contains oleic acid and linoleic acid[3].
2. Datura innoxia
The seeds contain α- and β-scopodonnine, hyoscyamine, scopolamine, meteloidine, daturadiol, daturaolone, and atropine. Lectin II. The seed oil contains linoleic acid and oleic acid.
The seeds of the related plant Datura stramonium contain atropine, hyoscyamine (i.e., scopolamine), hyoscyamine, 31-norcycloartenol, cycloeucalenol, 4α-methylcholest-8-enol, 31-norlanosterol, 31-norlanost-9(11)-enol, obtusifoliol, 4-methyl-7-cholestenol, citrostadienol, lanost-8-en-3β-ol, cycloartenol, 24-methylenecycloartenol, β-amyrin, daturaolone, daturadiol, and fatty acids, etc.
Medicinal Value
Datura flower can be used not only as an anesthetic but also to treat diseases. Its leaves, flowers, and seeds can all be used medicinally; pungent in taste, warm in nature, and highly toxic. The flowers can dispel wind-dampness, relieve asthma and pain, and can treat convulsions and cold asthma; decocted for washing, they treat various wind-induced stubborn arthralgia and cold-damp beriberi. The analgesic effect of the petals is particularly good, and they can treat neuralgia, etc. The leaves and seeds can be used to relieve cough and pain. Because Datura flower is highly toxic, its sale is restricted by the state, and when specially needed, it must be used under the prescription and controlled use of a relevant doctor.
The medicinal components contained in Datura can relax muscles and suppress sweat gland secretion, which is why the ancients named the anesthetic made from this flower "knockout drug." The alkaloids such as hyoscine contained in Datura flowers, roots, and fruits have a strong sedative effect, but if the dosage is too large, it will cause confusion, blurred consciousness, hallucinations, coma, paralysis, and other poisoning reactions. Legend has it that Hua Tuo's anesthetic formula Mafeisan contained Datura as an ingredient.
During the Renaissance, beauty-conscious Italian women dropped belladonna juice containing hyoscyamine into their eyes to produce pupil dilation, making themselves look more beautiful.
Poisoning Treatment
Overview of Poisoning
Datura poisoning is caused by accidental ingestion of Datura seeds, fruits, leaves, or flowers. Its main components are anisodamine, atropine, and scopolamine, etc. These components excite the central nervous system, block the M-cholinergic reaction system, and antagonize and paralyze the parasympathetic nerves. Clinically, the main manifestations are dryness of the mouth and throat, difficulty swallowing, hoarseness, rapid pulse, dilated pupils, delirium and hallucinations, convulsions, etc.; in severe cases, coma and respiratory and circulatory failure leading to death further occur. In traditional Chinese medicine, Datura is known as Yangjinhua, Shanqiezi, Zuirencao, Naoyanghua, Tougucao, Labahua, Fengqie, or Yemazi. The whole plant is toxic, with the seeds being the most toxic; children can be poisoned after taking 3-8 seeds. Generally, symptoms of poisoning appear 0.5-2 hours after oral ingestion, once fully absorbed by the oral and gastric mucosa.
At the intersection of medicine and poison, Datura flower appears suddenly like a goblin; its excessively bewitching colors attract the eye and admiration, making it difficult for us to distinguish the applause - which is for its medicinal properties, and which falls prostrate before its bewitching power. The gorgeous and beautiful Datura flower is like a dancing flame, presenting a spiritually eerie form with its flaming fire. Datura flower is Yangjinhua; the scholar Mr. Li Ling pointed out that it is the "panacea" regarded by Europe, India, and Arab countries. Datura is also known as Fengqiehua, Gouhetao, Wantaoahua, Yemazi, Zuixinhua, Naoyanghua, etc., and is a wild erect woody herbaceous plant of the Solanaceae family. It is further divided into large-flowered (white-flowered) Datura, red-flowered Datura, purple-flowered Datura, and other varieties. The main constituents of Datura flower are hyoscyamine, scopolamine, and a small amount of atropine, and the main anesthetic component is scopolamine. Besides being used as an anesthetic and analgesic for surgery, it is also used as an aphrodisiac and to treat epilepsy, snake bites, and rabies. In Hugo's *The Man Who Laughs*, the process of the mad doctor Ursus using Datura flower is described: "He was familiar with the properties and various wonders of Datura flower; everyone knows this plant has both yin and yang natures." This at least shows that since ancient Egypt, the feminine power of Datura has always found kindred spirits everywhere. There is an Egyptian mural indicating that when the ancient Egyptians entertained guests, they often had them smell Datura flowers and fruits, because Datura flowers and fruits are rich in hallucinogenic properties and can give guests a sense of euphoria.
Toxic parts: The whole plant is toxic, with the fruits, especially the seeds, being the most toxic, followed by the tender leaves. Dried leaves are less toxic than fresh leaves.
Toxic components: Mainly contain scopolamine and hyoscyamine; secondly atropine, apoatropine, noratropine, daturine, tigloidine, datura base, skimmianine, 2,6-dihydroxy hyoscyamine, cuscohygrine, and 7-hydroxy-3,6-di-tigloyl hyoscyamine. The total alkaloid content is highest at the end of flowering and drops rapidly when the seeds mature. Hemagglutinin is also isolated from the seeds.
Emergency Treatment
1. Gastric lavage with 1:5000 potassium permanganate or 1% tannic acid, then catharsis with magnesium sulfate or enema.
2. Subcutaneous injection of 3% pilocarpine nitrate injection, 2-4 ml each time, to antagonize the effects of hyoscyamine, once every 15 minutes, until the pupils constrict, the light reflex appears, and the oral mucosa becomes moist. Alternatively, physostigmine salicylate 1 mg can be injected subcutaneously, once every 15 minutes, for several doses.
3. For restlessness or convulsions, give sedatives such as tribromide tablets, chlorpromazine, chloral hydrate, phenobarbital, diazepam, etc.
4. Symptomatic and supportive treatment: For respiratory depression, give oxygen inhalation and artificial respiration; for high fever, use ice bags to cool down, alcohol sponge baths, antipyretics, etc.; for dilated pupils, use 0.1-1% physostigmine salicylate eye drops; for severe cases, hydrocortisone can be given by intravenous drip.
5. Traditional Chinese medicine: Mung bean coat 120 g, honeysuckle 60 g, licorice 150 g. Decoct in water, take in multiple doses.
Clinical Manifestations
1. Symptoms generally appear 0.5-2 hours after ingestion. Early symptoms include dryness of the mouth and throat, difficulty swallowing, hoarseness, rapid pulse, dilated pupils, dry and flushed skin, and fever, etc.
2. 2-6 hours after ingestion, psychiatric symptoms such as delirium, hallucinations, agitation, convulsions, and disturbances of consciousness may appear.
3. In severe cases, drowsiness often occurs within 12-24 hours, with shallow and slow breathing, decreased blood pressure, and even shock, coma, and respiratory paralysis and other critical signs.
Diagnostic Basis
1. History of overdose or accidental ingestion of the toxic substance. 2. Sudden onset with obvious central nervous system symptoms, accompanied by special clinical manifestations such as flushed cheeks, dry mucous membranes, and dilated pupils. 3. Datura seeds, leaves, or flowers may be found in gastric lavage. 4. Positive cat-eye mydriasis test and toxicological analysis.
Treatment Principles
1. Induce vomiting, gastric lavage, catharsis. 2. Intravenous fluids and diuresis to accelerate toxin excretion. 3. Detoxification treatment. 4. Symptomatic and supportive treatment.
Medication Principles
1. For early mild Datura poisoning, physostigmine or alternating physostigmine and pilocarpine can be used. 2. For severe poisoning, intramuscular neostigmine or edrophonium, with early and adequate use of adrenal corticosteroids, and strengthened symptomatic and supportive treatment. 3. Those with pre-existing heart disease should use neostigmine cautiously to avoid cardiac arrest.
Auxiliary Examinations
1. For simple early Datura poisoning, the examination plan is mainly based on examination frame "A"; 2. For patients with unclear diagnosis or advanced critical illness, the examination plan may include "A", "B", and "C".
Evaluation of Therapeutic Efficacy
1. Cured: Symptoms and signs disappear, all examinations normal. 2. Improved: Symptoms and signs improve. 3. Not cured: Symptoms and signs show no change.
Expert Tips
This disease is mainly caused by eating Datura leaves, seeds, or fruits. Datura leaves and seeds have a sweet taste, so they are easily eaten by mistake by young children. Therefore, the toxicity of Datura should be publicized to the public and children, and this flower should not be planted in homes, village edges, or courtyards as much as possible, nor should Datura be used to treat diseases on one's own. Once poisoning occurs, rescue should be carried out promptly. For unexplained poisoning in young children, the possibility of this disease should be highly suspected. Medicinal plant Datura.
Related Reports
There are many reports about Datura poisoning. Symptoms generally appear half an hour after ingestion, as quickly as 20 minutes, and no later than 3 hours; the toxic dose varies depending on the route of toxicity entry, age, and health status. Adults can be poisoned by eating 3 fruits; children are more sensitive, needing only one-tenth of an adult's dose, not more than one fruit, and 3-4 seeds can cause poisoning, mostly acute sudden onset. Poisoning in children also includes drowsiness. External application of Datura leaves can also cause acute systemic poisoning, with symptoms the same as oral ingestion, but symptoms appear faster than with oral ingestion.
Various domestic animals can be poisoned, with cats being the most sensitive, followed by cattle and horses, and sheep and rabbits having the strongest tolerance. The lethal dose of the above-ground parts of the plant for cattle is 150-300 g, for horses 150-200 g, and for sheep 75-200 g. A horse that eats 1 kg of seeds will die of convulsions the next day. The seeds are particularly toxic to ostriches and also toxic to fish. Recent reports indicate that poisoning symptoms in sheep include ataxia, spontaneous muscle fiber contractions, hyperesthesia, rapid breathing, and reduced water intake.
Clinical manifestations and incubation period: Symptoms often appear half an hour to 1 hour after ingestion, caused by inhibition of the parasympathetic nervous system and excitation of the central nervous system, similar to atropine poisoning symptoms, including dry mouth, difficulty swallowing, hoarseness, dry skin, flushing, fever, increased heart rate, deepened breathing, elevated blood pressure, headache, dizziness, restlessness, delirium, auditory and visual hallucinations, blurred consciousness, inappropriate laughing and crying, muscle twitching, ataxia, or paroxysmal convulsions and spasms. In addition, there may be elevated body temperature, constipation, mydriasis, and hyperactive knee reflexes. The above symptoms mostly disappear or basically disappear within 24 hours; in severe cases, after 12-24 hours, the patient enters drowsiness, convulsions, cyanosis, and finally coma and death.
Traditional Chinese Medicine Properties
Medicinal Material Characteristics
Character Identification
(1) Datura alba seeds: Capsule nearly spherical or flat-spherical, about 3 cm in diameter, with a shallow disc-shaped persistent calyx and short fruit stalk at the base. Surface yellow-green, sparsely covered with short thick spines. Pericarp lignified, irregularly 4-valved when mature. Seeds numerous, flat, triangular, about 3 mm wide, light brown. Odor distinctive, taste slightly bitter. Toxic.
(2) Datura innoxia seeds: Capsule nearly spherical or ovoid, 3-4 cm in diameter, base with persistent calyx slightly pentagonal, spines fine and flexible. Pericarp irregularly dehiscent from the upper part. Seeds flat kidney-shaped, about 5 mm long, about 3 mm wide, light brown.
Those with plump fruits, numerous seeds, and maturity are considered superior.
Pharmacological Effects
Mydriatic effect: The infusion of Datura seeds has a mydriatic and paralyzing effect.
[Processing]Dry in the shade, set aside for use.
[Nature and Flavor]Pungent; bitter; warm in nature; toxic.
[Meridian Entry]Enters the Liver and Spleen meridians.
[Functions and Indications]Relieves asthma; dispels wind; relieves pain. Mainly treats asthma and cough; convulsions; wind-cold-damp arthralgia; rectal prolapse; traumatic injuries; sores and boils.
[Usage and Dosage]Internal use: decoct in water, 0.15-0.3 g; or soak in wine. External use: appropriate amount, decoct in water for washing; or soak in wine and apply.
[Caution]*Sichuan Traditional Chinese Medicine Journal*: Contraindicated for those without blood stasis and the weak.
Traditional Chinese Medicine Heritage
Discussions by Various Schools
1. *Classified Materia Medica*: Treats traumatic injuries, expels blood stasis, and unblocks meridians.
2. *Guizhou Folk Formula Collection*: Fumigation treats toothache.
3. *Sichuan Traditional Chinese Medicine Journal*: Can dispel wind and overcome dampness, calm asthma and reduce swelling. Treats wind-cold-damp arthralgia, joint swelling and pain, convulsions and rectal prolapse, traumatic injuries, and diarrhea and dysentery, etc.
Practical Supplementary Formulas
① For rectal prolapse: One pair of Datura seeds (with shells), 16 oak cups. Crush the above, decoct in water for three to five boils; add Glauber's salt and wash with the hot liquid. (*Rumen Shiqin*)
② For traumatic injuries: Datura seeds 5 g, soak in 300 g of wine. Take 15 g each time. (*Compilation of Common Folk Herbal Medicines*)
③ For rheumatic pain: Two Zuixiantao, soak in 500 g of kaoliang liquor. Drink after ten days, once or twice a day, not exceeding 5 g each time. (*Shanghai Common Chinese Herbal Medicines*)
Clinical Applications
1. Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: Use 1 part Datura seeds and 4 parts Sushanhu root (the root of Rhododendron molle of the Ericaceae family), bake dry and grind into powder, make into tablets, 0.3 g per tablet, 1-2 tablets each time, taken 3 times a day. 15 days is one course of treatment, with a 5-7 day interval before the second course. During treatment, it can reduce joint pain, reduce joint swelling, and improve joint movement; it is ineffective for joint ankylosis.
2. For mydriasis, different concentrations of Datura seed infusion were compared with 1% homatropine. Through mydriasis tests on 24 cases, it was proved that Datura seed infusion has mydriatic and cycloplegic effects, but the appearance of the mydriatic effect, the disappearance of the pupillary light reflex, and the time for accommodation recovery are all slower than with homatropine. Regarding the effects on intraocular pressure and the aqueous outflow facility C value, there is no major difference between the two. The recovery time after mydriasis with Datura seed infusion is about half shorter than with atropine. The suitable concentration of the infusion is 50-60%. In addition, a decoction of the whole Datura plant and a solution of Datura extract have been used in cataract needle-aspiration surgery.
2.1. Decoction: Wash 1 jin of whole Datura plant, add 1-1.5 jin of clean water, boil for about 1 hour, filter 3-4 times through 3-4 layers of gauze, concentrate the filtrate to 100 ml, add an appropriate amount of preservative, and dispense into sterilized eye drop bottles for later use.
2.2. 30% Datura solution (prepared with purified crystalline powder): Half an hour before cataract needle-aspiration surgery, use one of the above two preparations for eye drops, once every 5 minutes, for a total of 4-5 times. After about 20-30 minutes, the pupil dilates and fixes, and when it reaches about 7-8 mm, the incision can be made and the needle inserted. This drug only has the effect of paralyzing the pupillary sphincter muscle, but no effect of exciting the pupillary dilator muscle. During the cataract surgery, if the needle touches the iris too much, the pupil of some patients will slightly constrict, so touching the iris should be avoided as much as possible. The decoction is dark soy sauce colored, with fine particles; if stored too long, large flocculent precipitates easily form. If this liquid is boiled and filtered again, its mydriatic effect is not reduced.
Medication Contraindications
1. Internal use should be cautious. Contraindicated for the weak.
2. Adverse reactions and treatment: Reports of Datura poisoning are not uncommon. According to an introduction of 54 cases, the flowers, leaves, fruits, and seeds of Datura can all cause poisoning. Poisoning generally occurs mostly in late autumn (September and October), when poisoning is mainly from fruits (seeds); spring poisoning patients often mistakenly cook Datura leaves with wild vegetables and become poisoned. The poisoning dose from accidental ingestion: seeds 2-30 grains, fruits 1/4-10 pieces (the usual poisoning dose is about 3 pieces; some have died from taking 5 pieces, but some have been saved after taking 12 pieces), dried flowers 1-30 g; cases of poisoning from leaves are only seen with external application. After poisoning, the onset time is as short as only 10 minutes, as long as up to 3 hours, generally about half an hour to 1 hour. The main clinical manifestations are flushing of the face and skin, restlessness, increased pulse rate, unsteady gait, dizziness, hallucinations, auditory hallucinations, dry mouth, thirst, numbness of the mouth, vomiting, slurred speech, dilated pupils, disappearance of the light reflex, and even high fever, coma, incontinence of urine and feces, and paroxysmal convulsions, etc. Laboratory tests show that the total white blood cell count is normal or slightly increased, with the neutrophil ratio mostly above 65%.
To diagnose Datura poisoning, in addition to detailed history taking, careful physical examination, and reference to various clinical manifestations, the cat-eye mydriasis test can also be used (place 1 drop of the patient's urine into a cat's eye; if it is Datura poisoning, the pupil can immediately dilate) to assist in diagnosis.
Emergency treatment of poisoning is the same as for atropine or scopolamine poisoning; folk remedies include decocting 2 qian of Saposhnikovia divaricata and 2 qian of cassia twig; decocting 4 liang of raw licorice; mashing 1-2 liang each of raw licorice and raw mung bean, soaking in boiling water or decocting; or decocting 1 liang of tea leaves into a strong decoction and mixing with half a jin of tofu and taking it at once. There are also methods of using cold compresses and cold baths to treat Datura poisoning in children: apply cold wet cloths to the patient's forehead and chest, changing them frequently, until consciousness returns. For more severe poisoning, use the cold water bath method: place the poisoned child in a bathtub and rinse with cold water until the skin flushing completely fades, and the child can be expected to gradually regain consciousness.
Datura Flower's Mandarava
Most people think that Mandarava and Datura are the same plant, but in fact Datura, Mandarava, and Manjusaka are not the same flower. Mandarava and Manjusaka are the same species in different colors, both are Lycoris, just different in color, which is what people often call the equinox flower. "Maha" in Sanskrit means great, "hua" means flower; Mandarava is translated as white lotus, and Manjusaka as red lotus.
Introduction
Flower name, scientific name: white-flowered Lycoris (Sanskrit original name: ma^nda^rava; manda^raka) is a variety of red-flowered Lycoris; color is their only difference. White-flowered Lycoris is Mandarava, and red-flowered Lycoris is Manjusaka; they are also the equinox flower.
Differences
The only difference is that Mandarava is white and Manjusaka is red. The similarity is that when it blooms it has no leaves, and when it has leaves it does not bloom. Flower and leaf never see each other, cherishing each other life after life, longing for each other...
1. Mandarava
White, scientific name white-flowered Lycoris, also known as equinox flower, dragon claw flower, old crow garlic, Lycoris, meaningless grass, garlic-head grass, ghost flower, hell flower, shell-flower, flower of life and death, mountain crow poison, and "a thunderclap on flat ground."
2. Manjusaka
Red, scientific name red-flowered Lycoris, also known as Datura, equinox flower, dragon claw flower, old crow garlic, Lycoris, meaningless grass, garlic-head grass, ghost flower, hell flower, shell-flower, cockroach flower, flower of life and death, "a thunderclap on flat ground," ghost-lighting fire, mountain crow poison, and Wangchuan.
In fact, the equinox flower should specifically refer to the red-flowered Lycoris, which is a bulbous plant. The bulb's shape is somewhat like a narcissus, and the flower is produced at the top of an empty stem. It is found in many places in Asia, but it seems that the red variety is more common in Japan. And because this flower has a special smell, somewhat like garlic, insects and mice and the like do not like to approach it. Its color is like fresh blood, and it is a flower with a very strong eerie atmosphere.
Manjusaka, this beautiful yet sorrowful name comes from the Lotus Sutra, and is one of the four flowers of the heavenly realm. It is generally considered to be the guiding flower growing by the Sanzu River. In legend, this flower is the flower of guidance; its fragrance has magic power, and it can bloom in the seventh lunar month, in large patches, bright red as blood, covering the earth, and can evoke the memories of the dead from before death.
Manjusaka is a flower of the dead that grows in cemeteries, intoxicating even the dead. It is said that this flower only blooms in the Yellow Springs, red and dazzling yet tragic, blooming in a whole patch like blood; from a distance it looks like a carpet spread by blood. Because it is red as fire, it is also described as the "road of fire illumination"; people, guided by this flower, head toward the prison of the underworld.
According to legend, this is also the only scenery on the road to the Yellow Springs. When the soul steps onto the Yellow Springs and crosses the Wangchuan, it will forget all its former life, and everything that once was remains on the other shore, blooming into a bewitchingly beautiful flower. The three days around the spring equinox are called the spring equinox, and around the autumn equinox are called the autumn equinox, which are days for visiting graves. Manjusaka blooms during the equinox period, very punctually, so it is also called the equinox flower.
This flower is a bulb in spring, grows leaves in summer, and only blooms after the leaves fall in autumn. Therefore, when the flower blooms there are no leaves, and where there are leaves there must be no flowers. Although born from the same root, the flower and leaf cannot see each other for their whole lives, and cannot see each other's appearance. Flower and leaf never meet, life after life missing each other. Hence the saying: "The equinox flower blooms on the other shore; only flowers are seen, no leaves; life after life they miss each other." Longing and cherishing yet forever losing each other. Such reincarnation with flower and leaf never meeting also carries the meaning of a tragic love that can never reunite.
Datura Flower's Cultural Background and Religious Interpretations
*Ashoka Sutra* 7 says: "Mandara, translated as round flower." *Lotus Sutra Guangzhai Commentary* 1 says: "Mandarava flower is translated as small white cluster flower. Maha-mandarava flower is translated as great white cluster flower." *Lotus Sutra Xuanzan* 2 says: "Mandarava flower, this is called agreeable to the mind, because those who see it are delighted." *Huiyuan Yinyi* upper says: "Mandarava flower, this is called delightful flower, also called variegated flower, also called soft flower, also called heavenly wonderful flower."
Mandala, or Mandala, Manda, Manzha, Manda, Sanskrit: mandala. It is meaningfully translated as altar ground, with the original meaning of being fully furnished with a circular enclosure or "gathering." It refers to the gathering place of all sages and all merits. Offering mandala is the most perfect and ingenious method for accumulating merit and wisdom; offering the entire universe in the form of a mandala is the fastest among many methods. Mandala is the "cosmic diagram in the heart" used by monks and Tibetans in daily practice of secret methods. There are four kinds, namely the so-called "four mandalas as characteristics," generally mainly circular or square, quite symmetrical, with a central point.
Origin
"Mandala" is a Sanskrit transliteration, called "Jikuo" in Tibetan, meaning mandala. Mandala has multiple layers of meaning. As the source symbolizing the structure of the universe, it is one of the widely used offerings, and is also a miniature model of the varied principal deities and the gathering places of the gods. The significance of offering mandala is to fill the three thousand worlds with the most precious treasures in the world and dedicate them to the Three Jewels of Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha.
Buddhist scriptures say that when Shakyamuni attained Buddhahood, the earth trembled, all the gods praised together, and many sufferings of the three evil paths of hell, hungry ghosts, and animals were at once relieved. Heavenly drums sounded together, emitting wonderful sounds, and the sky rained Mandarava flowers, Manjusaka flowers, golden flowers, silver flowers, lapis lazuli flowers, treasure flowers, seven-treasure lotuses, etc. At this point, Shakyamuni had attained the fruit of the Bodhi path, and then began to teach and accept disciples, imparting the true meaning of the universe that he had realized. Legend says that in the Buddhist land of the Western Pure Land, heavenly music often sounds in the air, and the ground is decorated with gold. There is a very fragrant and beautiful flower called the Mandarava flower, which falls continuously from the sky day and night, carpeting the ground in profusion.
*Guang Qun Fang Pu* quotes the *Lotus Sutra*: When the Buddha preached the Dharma, the sky rained Mandarava flowers. It seems this flower has a connection with Buddhism. Mandala is as confusing and elusive as the affairs of palace consorts. It blooms in August and fruits are gathered in September. Flower connoisseurs call it an evil guest, probably because the restless Mandala can suddenly grow elsewhere. *Compendium of Materia Medica* records in detail the origin of Mandala: when the Buddha preached the Dharma, a rain of Mandarava flowers fell from the sky; while Daoist secret texts record that among the stars of the Big Dipper there is one called the Mandala envoy, holding this flower. The Sanskrit name of the Mandarava flower is Mandarava; regarding its color, accounts are extremely inconsistent.
In Buddhist scriptures, the Mandarava flower means agreeableness, that is, everyone who sees it feels joy. It contains the spirit of penetrating the seen and unseen, transcendent enlightenment, and infinite transformation. A person with this spirit can become a Mandala immortal. As a mysterious pattern of Esoteric Buddhism, Mandala shows its complexity. The psychologist Jung saw the wonder in it, saying it is like a mathematical formula symbol, representing a spiritual order.
Legend
In every pot of black Datura flower lives a spirit; they can help you fulfill your wishes! But they also have an exchange condition, and that is human blood! As long as you use your own blood to water that black, bewitching Datura flower, the spirit in the flower will help you fulfill your wish! It can only be watered with blood, because they love this intense and deadly feeling!
Datura: a cursed flower growing in the desert. In the great desert, no one who finds Datura can leave safely. Fresh and beautiful, with bewitching branches and leaves, highly toxic. No antidote; also called the love flower.
There is a legend: the great desert is a punishment imposed by God because of human desire. All life in the great desert is controlled only by the water god at the center of the desert. Until the water god fell in love with a woman leading her tribe to find water, God was enraged and wanted to destroy the water god's soul. The desert flower god Datura, at the cost of entering the human world's reincarnation with him, begged God for forgiveness. God was moved by her infatuation and only expelled the water god from the heavenly realm. Since then, there has been no water in the desert, and Datura also became a cursed flower. Highly toxic throughout.
In China, Datura is called a sacred, pure Buddhist object. Only those born lucky have a chance to see it, and seeing it can bring endless happiness. Because Buddhist practice is about observing the world with a pure mind and walking the red dust with few desires, with nothing in hand and all phenomena empty, so long, long ago this white flower without a pistil was regarded by people as an incarnation of the divine, symbolizing empty heart, no heart, and peaceful heart.
In ancient India, the Datura flower was both the door knocker of the gate of desire and the base for constructing grand scenes. It was spread open and became a grand Mandala altar, as the "horn of angels (demons)." But in Western legends, Datura has always been given a terrifying color.
It is said that in ancient Spain, the Datura flower was like an indifferent onlooker, often blooming near execution grounds, numbly praying over every soul as life vanished. This flower is highly toxic throughout. It is said that among ten million people only one has a chance to see it bloom, so whenever someone meets one in bloom, her greatest love will die an unnatural death.
Datura Flower's Flower Language
Purple Datura: terror.
Blue Datura: deceitful love, false affection.
Pink Datura: comfort.
Green Datura: endless hope.
Black Datura: unpredictable darkness, death and a love of wandering displacement. Ceaseless love and revenge, the lovelessness and feuds of the mortal world, a resilient and wounded heart, the road of no return in life.
Golden Datura: respect and love, a born lucky one, with never-ending happiness.
White Datura: the flower of love; if swallowed with wine, it makes people laugh and has a narcotic effect. It is a flower that blooms in heaven, white and soft; those who see this flower have their evil removed.
Red Datura: not Manjusaka, do not confuse them. Bleeding, bloody love.
(In legend, Datura is a flower that exists only in the underworld; it is said that the King of the Underworld specially brought it to the mortal world to commemorate his grandson's reincarnation as a human.) This is incorrect; the underworld has only one flower, namely Lycoris radiata. The white flower of Lycoris radiata blooms on the other shore, that is, in heaven, and is named Manjusaka; the red flower blooms beside the Three-Life Stone at the Forgotten River, and is named Manjusaka.
Tea-colored Datura: rationality, wisdom, elegance.
Yellow Datura: nobility, power, endless strife.
Datura flower pictures
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Anoectochilus roxburghii is a perennial herbaceous plant. It has extensive medicinal value among the people. As a very magical medicinal material, its cultivation method also requires some attention. However, it is still a medicinal material often grown among the people. In this issue, the editor shares with everyone the cultivation method of Anoectochilus roxburghii and teaches everyone how to plant Anoectochilus roxburghii.
[Basic introduction to Anoectochilus roxburghii] Anoectochilus roxburghii is a perennial herbaceous plant. The leaves are round and shield-shaped, the rhizome is relatively thin, and the petiole is slender. It is not cold-tolerant and likes warmth and humidity. It likes shade and moisture, and especially likes to grow in damp places along ditches, on stone walls, and in loose soil where evergreen broad-leaved trees grow. Its requirements for sunlight are still quite high. It is distributed in subtropical and tropical areas of China such as Hainan, Sichuan, Guizhou, and Yunnan.
[The story and legend of Anoectochilus roxburghii] Once upon a time, a divine bird injured its leg and limped to a valley to look for medicine to eat. It came to a mountain spring and saw Anoectochilus roxburghii covered with shining leaves, so it pecked and ate a few plants, and within a few days its leg injury healed. Later, this myth and legend was verified by herbal farmers in the mountains. Herbal farmers once discovered in the mountains that flying creatures, especially bird animals, often flew around with Anoectochilus roxburghii in their beaks. It turned out that when injured or sick birds needed treatment, and when birds and beasts were injured or sick, they would look for Anoectochilus roxburghii to eat, using it to heal injuries and treat illnesses and strengthen the body.
[Cultivation methods of Anoectochilus roxburghii]
(1) Temperature: Anoectochilus roxburghii has strong adaptability to temperature, but the most suitable temperature is around 20 degrees. During cultivation, under greenhouse cover, low temperatures cause no harm at all to Anoectochilus roxburghii. However, 15 days at a temperature above 34 degrees will burn the leaves and easily cause the leaves to curl and dry up.
(2) Water: Anoectochilus roxburghii likes to grow in a moist environment. Water is the most important factor affecting the survival of Anoectochilus roxburghii. Anoectochilus roxburghii cannot survive in an environment with dry climate and water-deficient soil. Artificial cultivation should keep Anoectochilus roxburghii in a small environment with relative humidity above 70%. However, water should often be sprinkled around the planting pot.
(3) Light: Anoectochilus roxburghii is a shade-loving plant, and its light saturation point for photosynthesis is low, with a suitable light intensity of about 3000 lux. Under natural conditions, the canopy density of the upper tree layer is 70% to 80%, and the coverage of the lower vegetation is about 40%. Therefore, for Anoectochilus roxburghii, light must be sufficient to ensure that the leaves can fully carry out photosynthesis.
(4) Soil: The soil is required to be loose, breathable, and moist. If Anoectochilus roxburghii is artificially planted, the soil must be selected to be loose and well aerated. Under natural conditions, soils of the humus soil, yellow soil, and red soil types all have Anoectochilus roxburghii distribution. Anoectochilus roxburghii is suitable for rooting in slightly acidic soil conditions.
[The value of Anoectochilus roxburghii] It has the effects of providing nutrition, resisting aging, and regulating human body immunity. It has the functions of clearing heat and cooling blood, removing dampness and detoxifying, and can also be used for myasthenia gravis, etc.; it is also used to treat hypertension, tumors, heart disease, suppurative osteomyelitis, mouth ulcers, sexually transmitted diseases, etc. Its components contain amino acids and trace elements, both of which are higher than those of domestic American ginseng and wild mountain ginseng. It has many benefits for the human body.
Conclusion: The cultivation method of Anoectochilus roxburghii still requires much attention. If the growing environment is good, its medicinal value will increase. Anoectochilus roxburghii also has many uses, and it can also be potted indoors to decorate the home, which is also a good choice. If you want to learn more about plant cultivation, please continue to follow Aiyouwo Decoration Information.
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