Roses and the Zombi's Cucumber

[smokingboot]

At last! A post that isn't about studio disasters or how tired I am!

This past weekend was peaceful and gorgeous; sunshine, a couple of bits and pieces thrown on the barbie (not the doll, though that would be interesting) time spent with excellent friends...my heart is satisfied and light. And my stomach was satisfied too, though not quite as light. After the bbq, we rested a while and moved onto a japanese restaurant, where, as well as ubiquitous and delicious sushi, we got to try a luscious fish broth very new to me. And the night rolled on in conversation, and I went to bed very happy.

Yesterday, I went to the garden centre; Have you noticed how dangerous these are after rain? I found the rosebed and was instantly conquered by a velvet crimson strongly scented rose...she's a proper rose, fragrant with thorns...now I have her, I don't know what to do with her. I also bought a fiery little rose bush of the floribunda kind, with pretty flame bright flowers. I don't know what to do with her either. And a tiny sunflower. They also sell Agapanthii (agapanthuses?) which I love but don't know how to keep. Things have to be pretty tough to survive this garden. And then I found a flower of great curiousity;



It looked like a half-melted lily and had what can only be described as an air of great malevolence to it. Closed, the petals looked as if their opening would reveal something viscous and vicious within; these surely are Hastur's flowers. I looked at the name: 'Datura'. I have heard of it before. In Wade Davis' book The Serpent and the Rainbow in which he searches for the material components of the famed zombie poison he speaks of Datura..."It is a plant that has been called the drug of choice of poisoners, criminals and black magicians throughout the world. its name is Datura, the holy flower of the North Star." (p.35)

Respected by many tribes, used in various shamanic practices, it was described by Davis as inducing "Maddening hallucinations and delusions, followed by confusion, disorientation and amnesia. Excessive doses resulted in stupor and death." (p.39) one species, datura stramonium, is known on Haiti as the zombi's cucumber.

No sign of zombies or cucumbers, but I was fascinated by a plant that so clearly signalled 'I am a very bad idea' even in the shape of its petals. The UK has poisonous plants enough, (Datura's relatives include such home grown favourites as henbane and belladonna) and both have warnings 'in their faces' so to speak, but Datura is the one that looks downright grinningly malign, a happy haven for mini-facehuggers. It's a very interesting plant and I really wanted to bring it home, but I fear for the two furry idiots currently bouncing around our garden. Zombie neighbours I don't mind, zombie cats I can do without.

Here's what Datura looks like:

http://biotech.tipo.gov.tw/plantjpg/1/Datura%20metel.jpg

http://ohric.ucdavis.edu/photos/fullsize/Brugmansia2.jpg

http://www.1adventure.com/archives/images/14360018--sacred-datura-2.jpg

and here's that cucumber, also called thorn apple and doom apple:

http://www.ukwildflowers.com/Web_photos/datura_stramonium_thorn_apple_fr.jpg

Comments

[binidj.livejournal.com]

That plant really is quite disturbing.

[lucyas.livejournal.com]

That's very interesting. I'd heard of it before but never knew what it looked like - and certainly had no idea it was for sale in ordinary garden centres :)

Presumably it has to be treated in some way before it turns people into zombies - or do you think this is just the beginning of Shaun of the Dead turned reality?

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

Certainly is. I keep thinking I would like one, and then think of me being alone in the conservatory with it at night...hmm, maybe not.

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

First one I've seen in a garden centre! Re SotD, it hadn't occurred to me, but now that I think about it, there was something rather odd about the cashier wailing 'brainns' at the tills, and that gardener chewing on something in the bushes...

[coz100.livejournal.com]

Wow it looks like something that should be in the Little Shop of Horrors.
The cucumber isn't too friendly either. You couldn't play conkers very well with it.

The cucumber

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

Too right...and I don't see the vicar being enthused at finding it in his sandwiches, with or without watercress:-P

Re: The cucumber

[coz100.livejournal.com]

A bit of mustard and he won't know the difference.

[bottomlescup.livejournal.com]

I have seen those flowers(Datura) in Peru. They caught my eye too - because they dont look very ordinary...in fact I have a picture of me under one of those plant sniffing them.

They are supposed to hve hallucinogenic effects...maybe that's why I was feeling so happy there in Macchu Picchu - these plants are everywhere there.

[bottomlescup.livejournal.com]

I had no idea that flower had such dark history. See, that's me under that tree/plant:

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

Datura's history as hallucinagenic/rites of passage inducer is vast and world wide; according to Davis many different tribes used it from Africa to Amerindia, and the origins of the name are derived from the Dhatureas, bands of thief bandits in ancient India, whio used it to drug their intended victims! In Peru it was called 'Huaca, the Quechua name for grave, because it was believed that those intoxicated with it could divine the locations of ancestral tombs...

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

Thank you, what a gorgeous photo! Both subjects look very lovely:-)

[bottomlescup.livejournal.com]

LOL. Thank you. The credit goes to the photographer aka my husband. That was a lovely hotel we were staying in...it was like a bunch of cottages in the middle of a rainforest. :feeling nostalgic: You should see Peru sometime. You might fall in love with it. :)

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

Peru sounds extraordinary...one of those places I always imagine as being slightly beyond the world. I don't have a picture of it in my head which is a good thing, as I can't impose any preconceptions on myself. Hopefully one day I'll visit there.

Re: The cucumber

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

Giving the vicar hallucinogens on the Summer Solstice? I like it:-)