Common thornapple is an annual plant with large, trumpet-shaped flowers and spiny fruit. The whole plant is poisonous to people, pets and livestock.
Common thornapple is a vigorous growing plant that can:
The entire plant, particularly the seeds, is poisonous. It contains tropane alkaloids, toxins that can cause serious illness or death. Children are very sensitive to common thornapple poisoning. They have been poisoned by sucking nectar from flowers and eating seeds. Eating the plant can cause:
Touching the plant can cause dermatitis, nausea and headaches in some people.
What to do if a person is poisoned:
The toxins in common thornapple can affect horses, cattle, sheep, pigs, dogs and poultry. Livestock usually avoid eating it. Most cases of livestock poisoning are caused by the weed being present in hay, silage or contaminated grain. Symptoms in animals include:
Common thornapple is a leafy annual herb up to 1.5 m tall but usually 30-60 cm tall. It grows quickly and usually flowers from summer to autumn then dies in autumn.
Leaves are:
The leaves smell foul when crushed.
The roots are branched and either shallow, or a taproot up to 1 m deep, with stringy side roots.
Common thornapple has spread widely across most of NSW except the most Western arid areas. It was first recorded in Sydney in 1802.
It is most likely native to tropical and subtropical parts of South and Central America.
Common thornapple grows in subtropical and warm-temperate regions. It grows best in warm, open, sunny areas with well-drained, rich, moist soils but it can also tolerate dry conditions. It is often found:
Common thornapple spreads by seed. Each plant produces up to 30 000 seeds which can live in the soil for up to 40 years. Germination can occur throughout the year but occurs mostly in spring. Disturbing the soil encourages seeds to germinate. Seeds are spread by:
CABI (2021). Data Sheet Datura stramonium (jimsonweed) https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/10.1079/cabicompendium.18006
McKenzie, R. (2012). Australia's poisonous plants, fungi and cyanobacteria: a guide to species of medical and veterinary importance. CSIRO.
Parsons, W.T., & Cuthbertson, E. G. (2001). Noxious weeds of Australia. CSIRO publishing.
PlantNET (The NSW Plant Information Network System). Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney. Datura stramonium L. Retrieved 23 June 2021 from https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Datura~stramonium
Richardson F.J.,Richardson R.G. and Shepherd R.C.H (2006). Weeds of the south-east an identification guide for Australia. (R.G. and F.J. Richardson, Melbourne).
South Australia Flora (nd). Fact sheet Datura stramonium. Retrieved June 2018 from: http://www.flora.sa.gov.au/efsa/lucid/Solanaceae/Solanaceae%20species/key/Australian%20Solanaceae%20species/Media/Html/Datura_stramonium.htm
Western Australia Government, Dept. of Primary Industries and Regional Development (2020). Thornapple:pest Retrieved from: https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/pest-plants/thornapple-pest
Common thornapple can be controlled by herbicides, mulching, slashing, hand-pulling or chipping.
Preventing plants from seeding is the most effective way to control it. Control programs will need to be repeated over many years because the seed lasts for decades in the soil.
Wear personal protective clothing including gloves and long sleeves when managing this plant.
Purchase pasture or crop seeds from a registered grower.
When buying hay, ask if a vendor declaration is available. Have designated feed out areas that can be checked regularly for weeds.
Always check and clean any machinery or vehicles that have been in an infested area before they are moved to a noninfested area.
Seedlings and small plants can be hand pulled or dug out. Weeding will be easier in damp soil. Take care to remove as much of the root as possible otherwise plants might regrow.
Cultivation of large infestations works well when plants are seedlings. It is not as effective on larger plants because their roots are tougher and can stay in the soil. Cultivation may need to be repeated several times because seedlings can germinate over many months. Avoid cultivating any plants with fruit. Disturbing the soil by cultivation can cause dormant seeds to germinate, therefore follow up will be needed.
Slashing before the weeds set seed can be useful. But slashing seeding plants will spread the seeds.
Spraying is most effective on actively growing seedlings or young plants.
Boom spraying is useful for large infestations.
Spot spraying is useful for isolated plants or when infestations are closed to desirable plants.
See Using herbicides for more information.
2,4-D amine 625 g/L
(Various products)
Rate: 1.6 to 2.4 L per ha
Comments: Pasture
Withholding period: 7 days withholding for grazing
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate
2,4-D amine 700 g/L
(Amicide Advance 700)
Rate: 285 mL in 100 L of water
Comments: Pastures, rights of way and Industrial areas
Withholding period: Do not graze or cut for stock food for 7 days after application.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate
Bromacil 800 g/kg
(Various products)
Rate: 3.5 or 6.5 kg per ha
Comments: Industrial areas and rights of way: lower rate for lighter soil
Withholding period: Not required when used as directed.
Herbicide group: 5 (previously group C), Inhibition of photosynthesis at photosystem II - D1 Serine 264 binders (and other nonhistidine binders) (PS II Serine 264 inhibitors)
Resistance risk: Moderate
Glyphosate 450 g/L
(Various products)
Rate: 1.6 to 2.4 L per ha
Comments: Boom spray
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate
Glyphosate 450 g/L
(Various products)
Rate: 400 to 560 mL per 100 L of water
Comments: Spot spray
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate
Glyphosate 450 g/L
(Various products)
Rate: 60 to 80 mL per 15 L of water
Comments: Knapsack spraying
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate
Imazapyr 250 g/L
(Various products)
Rate: 4 L per ha
Comments: Industrial areas
Withholding period: Not required when used as directed.
Herbicide group: 2 (previously group B), Inhibition of acetolactate and/or acetohydroxyacid synthase (ALS, AHAS inhibitors)
Resistance risk: High
The content provided here is for information purposes only and is taken from the Biosecurity Act 2015 and its subordinate legislation, and the Regional Strategic Weed Management Plans (published by each Local Land Services region in NSW). It describes the state and regional priorities for weeds in New South Wales, Australia.
Area | Duty |
---|---|
All of NSW | General Biosecurity Duty All pest plants are regulated with a general biosecurity duty to prevent, eliminate or minimise any biosecurity risk they may pose. Any person who deals with any plant, who knows (or ought to know) of any biosecurity risk, has a duty to ensure the risk is prevented, eliminated or minimised, so far as is reasonably practicable. |
Reviewed 2023