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What is this? we call it the Triffid!
Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2006 7:19 pm
by Bouncinbob
My friend has this little charmer growing alongside his courgettes but swears black is blue and red is no colour at all that he did not plant it. It is about 4 feet high and the same across and has all the hall marks as being of themarrow / cucumber family except that the fruit are spiky, about 2+ inches long and about 1+ inches diameter.
[img]http://s84.photobucket.com/albums/k12/Bouncinbob_2006/the%20triffid/?action=view¤t=thetreeB.jpg&refPage=&imgAnch=imgAnch3
[/img]http://s84.photobucket.com/albums/k12/Bouncinbob_2006/the%20triffid/?action=view¤t=theleaf2B.jpg&refPage=&imgAnch=imgAnch2
[img]http://s84.photobucket.com/albums/k12/Bouncinbob_2006/the%20triffid/?action=view¤t=ThefruitB.jpg&refPage=&imgAnch=imgAnch1
I hope that this does not turn out to be too large a file.
Your comments will be most welcome, but try and keep them on the subject HeHeHe[/img]
Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2006 7:23 pm
by Bouncinbob
Ooops
Something wrong here, perhaps piccys were too big, can not think so though.
Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2006 7:29 pm
by Bouncinbob
Gotcha
][/img]
This is the general view of the plant
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This is the leaf
and this is the fruit
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Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2006 7:36 pm
by Chantal
Is it a Prickly Cucumber?
Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2006 8:16 pm
by oldherbaceous
Bouncinbob it looks a little like a Datura to me, if it is don't eat any of it as they are toxic.
Kind regards Old Herbaceous.
Theres no fool like an old fool.
Your very own triffid
Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2006 8:59 pm
by Fig tree
Hi Bouncinbob
I had the very same plant appear last year in my allotment. I cant remember its correct name but I did find it after some searching, it is a kind of Datura as Old Herbaceous said and is poisonous (leaves as well as fruit). Pull it up and bag the whole thing and take to your local council tip. Whatever you do dont compost it!!
Fig tree 
Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2006 9:04 pm
by jopsy
well how exciting!
OH how clever are you!!
Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2006 9:18 pm
by Tigger
I grow Daturas in my flower beds but they don't look anything like that?!
Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2006 9:26 pm
by jopsy
are there lots of different types?
i wouldnt know!
Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2006 11:35 pm
by sally wright
Dear All,
this is datura stramonium, it is exceedingly poisonous and should be disposed of before it spreads. Wear gloves as the juice can cause irritation and if you get it in your eyes can be very nasty.
A Modern Herbal by Mrs M Grieve will give you more information. She classes it alongside belladonna and hemlock for toxicity so be careful.
Regards Sally Wright.
Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2006 12:06 am
by peter
Common name Thornapple, yes?
Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2006 12:09 pm
by Bouncinbob
Guys
A great help, thanks for all your replies, bang goes Sunday lunch then.
Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 12:26 am
by sally wright
Dear Bouncin Bob,
consumption of this would be less Sunday lunch and more last supper! BTW it is a member of the potato family.
Regards Sally Wright.
Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 10:24 am
by Johnboy
Hi Sally,
What a wonderful 'one liner'! I keep giggling every time I think of it.
JB.