The common name of Datura Stramonium, N.O. Solanaceæ (see DATURA), a coarse annual plant bearing large funnel-shaped white flowers, succeeded by large four-celled capsules covered with prickly spines; also the capsule or fruit itself. Also formerly called thorny apple.
1578. Lyte, Dodoens, III. lxxxvii. 440. Fruite, round as an apple…, beset rounde about with many prickley thornes, and therefore they call it Thorne apple.
1694. W. Salmon, Bate’s Dispens. (1713), 680/2. Fresh Leaves of Strammonium bearing Thorn Apples.
1846. Lindley, Veg. Kingd., 619. The Thorn-apple … is a violent narcotic when taken internally.
1898. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., V. 415. Crenation of the red-corpuscles, giving rise to the so-called mulberry and thorn-apple forms.
