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What is the origin of the name Jimson weed?

 

Jimson weed (Datura stramonium) is a corruption of the name Jamestown weed, given to a highly poisonous plant. The Jamestown, Virginia, colonists were familiar with this weed. It is also known as thorn apple, mad apple, stinkwort, angel's trumpet, devil's trumpet, stinkweed, dewtry, and white man's weed. Every part of this plant is potentially deadly if consumed in even moderate amounts. Even so, some of the alkaloids found in this plant are used by doctors as a preanesthetic.

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