Datura spp. / MoonFlower / Momoy / Ta:g’amih

Datura spp. / MoonFlower / Momoy / Ta:g’amih

Incredibly showy (albeit most brilliantly at night; owing to the common name Moonflower), the intensely white flowers are also some of the largest around our region (Sierra Nevada). Calyces can range to 12cm with corollas reaching up to 20cm across! Tightly wound, they slowly unfurl in the late afternoon and are thought to be primarily pollinated by moths and bats.

Fruits give us another name: Thornapple. These dehiscent structures are birthed from the withering petals and have numerous prickles; in stark contrast to the welcoming appearance of the flowers. Leaves are simple and attached alternately to purple-tinged, puberulent stems. The species as a whole is low-growing, sometimes even prostrate-like in habit; though individual plants have been documented to reach nearly 2 meters.

All in all, a really beautiful and fascinating plant!