POISONOUS PLANT

We finally got around to finding out what sort of plant this beauty was that Gino found at Red Rock. We had taken a photo and decided to leave it without picking it, even though Gino really really wanted to. Well, after a few minutes, Gino came up flower in hand. Come to find out, it's deadly poisonous! AHHH! It's called Jimson Weed and is one of the desert's most toxic plants. Gabriel later tore it to pieces. Fortunately nothing happened to either of them. Yikes! Some research...."The lives of many children and adults have been lost after its leaves, stems, or fruits have been ingested. It is a powerful hallucinogen that was used for centuries by Indian religious leaders, known as shamans, skilled in it's preparation. All parts of the plant contain the chemicals responsible for toxicity and hallucinogenic effects. (Be warned- modern day experimenters risk their lives by swallowing any part of this deadly plant.)" From How Indians Used Desert Plants by James W. Cornett.