Sponsored by
EXCLUSIVE: Deadly plant found in Sleights garden
ONE of the world's most toxic plants has been discovered in the back garden of a Sleights home.
Sitting among the herbs and shrubs of Alan McDonald's garden is a deadly plant known as the Devil's Trumpet.
Mr McDonald (45) was intrigued to find the bizarre looking plant, which has hallucinogenic properties, growing in his flowerbed.
He said: "Three or four weeks ago I was just digging when I found it.
"It was only about four inches high.
"Normally there are hyacinths growing round that area and as soon as they started to die we realised there was something else growing there with a red stem. I was quite excited.
"I looked it up on the internet and found out about it.
"Every part of the plant is poisonous, even smelling the flowers can effect you.
"It can kill you."
The joiner, who lives with his partner Jane Lyth, had his suspicions confirmed after seeing national reports of a similar finding in Coventry.
"We saw it on the BBC news and I said that is just like our one, it was quite a surprise to see it.
"First I got in touch with Whitby Museum and then they sent a botanist round.
"It is quite rare especially in the north, but if you talk to farmers around here they know where to find them dotted around the fields."
The Devil's Trumpet, so called because of its beautiful spiked lilac trumpet shaped flowers, is a rare find in North Yorkshire.
Although Mr McDonald's plant has lost its blooms. Mike Yates is a botanist from Sleights who specialises in the identification of plants and flowers.
He said: "There are records of the plants in North Yorkshire. We see about one or two per year in the whole of north east Yorkshire.
"In England we call it the Thorn Apple. They are more common in areas of South America and the Mediterranean.
"I think it comes from the unusual bird seed people buy and the seeds can germinate for long periods. The weather can affect them and especially the rain we have been having recently.
"They must not be eaten or touched or anything like that."
Although beautiful when in flower the plant has a dangerous history. Part of the Datura plant family, it is associated with deadly nightshade and mandrake, used in witches brew and love potions and has hallucinogenic qualities.
It has been used throughout history in different form, with Italian woman reportedly rubbing it on their eyes to enlarge their pupils to enhance their beauty.
However, the seeds found inside its the spiky casings are deadly when ingested.
Despite its reputation, Mr McDonald has decided to keep the plant in his garden, which is currently only 2ft high compared to the Anne Nowell's 4ft high datura in Coventry.
"We will keep it unless the police come round as it is a class two drug apparently."
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Whitby
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light snow
Temperature: -1 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: -4 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 25 mph
Wind direction: South
