THORN-APPLE, Datum, a genus of plants of the natural order solunaceco, having a. tubular 5-cleft calyx, a large funnel-shaped 5-lobed flower, a 2-laminated stigma, and an. imperfectly 4-celled, prickly, or unarmed capsule. The species of this genus are annual herbaceous plants, rarely shrubs or trees; and are in general very narcotic, and pro ductive of excitement or delirium. The common THORN-APPLE, or STRAMONHDI (D. stramonium), is an annual plant, with smooth stem and leaves, white flowers, and erect prickly capsules, a native of the East Indies, brought by the gypsies to Europe, where it is, now very generally to be met with, as also in Asia, the n. of Africa, and North America. It is by some stated to be the plant from which the poisonous " dri" of the gypsies is. obtained. It contains a peculiar narcotic alkaloid, D. daturine, and is one of the most powerful narcotic acrid poisons; but its leaves and seeds are employed, although rarely,. in medicine. The leaves have an extremely nauseous overpowering smell, and a loath some bitter taste; the seeds, which are of a dark-brown color, are still more poisonous. A variety with pale violet flowers and purplish violet stem is frequently cultivated in, gardens as an ornamental plant. Still more narcotic is the soft-haired thorn-apple (D.
meter), a native of the s. of Asia and of Africa. Robbers in India employ it in order to stupefy those whom they would rob, or rather to throw them into the condition of a waking dream. From its seeds, along with opium, hemp, and certain spices, a intoxicating substance is prepared, which the Mohammedans of India use in order to produce in themselves an indescribable joyfulness and extremely pleasurable feeling for a short time; but the use of it destroys the constitution. D. tatula, another Indian species, has similar properties, and is very energetic; as is also D. sanguinea, the FLontroNnro of Peru, which is used by the Indians to prepare a very powerful narcotic drink, which stupedes when very diluted, and when strong, brings on maniacal excitement.—The beautiful D. fastuosa has flowers externally of a violet color, and white within, and is cultivated as an ornamental plant, especially a variety with what are called double flowers, which consist rather of two corollas, one within the other.—D. arborea, a native of Peru and Columbia, has begun to be also very generally cultivated in flower-gardens in Europe. It has very splendid pendulous white flowers, 9 by 12 in. long, which dif fuse a sweet smell in the evening and at night.