Jimsonweed is an erect herbaceous annual plant with an aggressively invasive nature. It freely branches in the form of a bush that can take a height of up to 5 feet.
Jimsonweed has long, thick, fibrous roots that give rise to a stout pale yellowish to the purple-colored aerial stem. This smooth yet leafy stem divides into branches, each branch forming an individual leaf and flower. Its leaves are irregularly undulated, soft, and toothed, stretching long for 6 to 8 inches. The flowers, on the other hand, are trumpet-shaped emitting a pleasant odor, all the while emerging in creamy white or violet shades.
All parts of Jimsonweed are notably notorious for their highly toxic effect. It has been used and misused as a hallucinogen for sacred or occult visions. It can cause certain serious crises, especially anticholinergic syndrome (disorientation/delirium). All these vicious effects are the result of tropane, an alkaloid present in jimsonweed’s leaves and flowers.
Apart from its adverse outcomes, jimsonweed has managed to find its seat on the medicinal board. If used in the right amount, its leaves can be a natural cure for respiratory disorders (asthma, swine flu, persistent cough, and influenza) and some nerve diseases.