MELBOURNE STREET TREES 35 - BRUGMANSIA

Brugmansia suaveolens, Brazil's Angel Trumpet, is a South American species of flowering plants that grow as shrubs or small trees with large fragrant flowers. The flowers are remarkably beautiful and sweetly fragrant, about 24–32 cm long and shaped like trumpets. The corolla body is slightly recurved to 5 main points, but the very peaks in the true species are always curved outwards, never rolled back, and these peaks are short, only 1–2.5 cm long. The flowers are usually white but may be yellow or pink and hang downward from fully pendulous up to nearly horizontal. Fragrant in the evenings to attract pollinating moths, they hang half-closed during the day, but return to their peak again in the evenings.

Brugmansia are grown as ornamentals outdoors year-round in non-freezing climates around the world. Like other large-leaved, fast-growing plants, they appreciate a little protection from the wind, as well as from the hottest afternoon sun. They like organically rich soil, frequent water, and heavy fertilizer when in full growth. Both woody and leafy tip cuttings are used to propagate Brugmansia, although thicker cuttings tolerate lower humidity.

Every part of Brugmansia suaveolens is poisonous, with the seeds and leaves being especially dangerous. As in other species of Brugmansia, B. suaveolens is rich in scopolamine (hyoscine), hyoscyamine, atropine, and several other tropane alkaloids. Effects of ingestion can include paralysis of smooth muscles, confusion, tachycardia, dry mouth, diarrhea, visual and auditory hallucinations, mydriasis, rapid onset cycloplegia, and death.

This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme.