Nicotiana glauca

Nicotiana glauca Tobacco tree

Tobaco moruno

This plant can grow to 5 metres and is native to South America. It flowers all year. It is now found all over the world in temperate zones. This particular plant appeared in a friend's garden this year in Ronda, the seeds dropped by a bird presumably. I have also seen it in Almeria. It is smoked by Native American Indians, but the leaves are highly toxic if ingested, causing death.

Hyoscyamus albus

Hyoscyamus albus White henbane

Beleño blanco

This plant is native to the Mediterranean and north Africa. It grows to 50cms and flowers from April to September. It is toxic as it contains Hyoscyamine which has been used as a narcotic in anaesthetics and also as an aphrodisiac!

Datura stramonium

Datura stramonium Thorn apple

Estramonio

This plant was native to north America but is now found all over the world. It flowers from July to October and grows from 25-150cms. It has been used for centuries to relieve asthma and is also an analgesic. It is also a powerful hallucinogen which can last for days!

Mandragora autumnalis

Mandragora autumnalis Mandrake

Mandrágora

This plant flowers anytime from August to January and grows to about 30cm at times. It is highly toxic, any part of the plant, and contains Alkoloids including Hyoscymine used in anaesthetics etc. It was believed to have many magical powers, especially the roots as they resemble humans in shape and it is supposed to "scream" when you pull it out of the ground. To touch this plant it is necessary to wear gloves at all times. It was featured in one of the first Harry Potter books. A white form below found in October 2013. Flowering now 5.9.2014. This is very late this year, still no sign of it on 30.9.2016. It is possibly due to lack of rainfall as things are getting desperate due to the continued drought.