JIMSON WEED Meaning and
Definition
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Jimson weed, also known as Datura stramonium, is a plant species belonging to the nightshade family, Solanaceae. It is an annual herbaceous plant that can grow up to one meter in height and is characterized by its distinct oval-shaped leaves with irregular and toothed margins. Jimson weed is native to North America but has since spread to many parts of the world due to its hardiness and adaptability.
This plant is notorious for its strong hallucinogenic properties, which are derived from the presence of tropane alkaloids such as hyoscyamine, scopolamine, and atropine. These compounds, particularly scopolamine, can cause delirium, confusion, and intense hallucinations when ingested or smoked. Consequently, jimson weed has been historically used for various spiritual, recreational, and medicinal purposes, albeit with great caution due to its potentially toxic effects.
However, it is crucial to note that jimson weed possesses highly poisonous properties and has been implicated in a significant number of deaths and intoxications. Ingesting any part of the plant, including its seeds and flowers, can lead to severe adverse effects on the central nervous system, cardiovascular system, and other bodily functions. Symptoms of jimson weed poisoning may include rapid heart rate, dilated pupils, dry mouth, blurred vision, agitation, seizures, and in severe cases, coma or death.
Due to its dangerous and potentially lethal nature, the cultivation, distribution, and sale of jimson weed are strictly regulated or prohibited in many jurisdictions, with warnings about its toxicity being widely disseminated.
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Jamestown weed, stramonium.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for JIMSON WEED
- jimsonweeds
- jimsonwed
- jimsonweed
- jimsonwead
- himson weed
- nimson weed
- mimson weed
- kimson weed
- iimson weed
- uimson weed
- jumson weed
- jjmson weed
- jkmson weed
- jomson weed
- j9mson weed
- j8mson weed
- jinson weed
- jikson weed
- jijson weed
- jimaon weed
Etymology of JIMSON WEED
The word "jimson weed" has an interesting etymology. It derives from the colloquial English term "jamestown weed". The term "jamestown" refers to the town of Jamestown, Virginia, which was one of the first permanent English settlements in North America, established in 1607.
The name "jamestown weed" originated because the plant was encountered and described by English settlers in Jamestown. However, the actual botanical name for this plant is "Datura stramonium" or "Datura". Over time, the term "jamestown weed" transformed into "jimson weed" due to a linguistic process called folk etymology, where a word changes to resemble a more familiar term or sound.
This transformation may have occurred because "jimson" sounds similar to a mispronunciation or corruption of "Jamestown".
Similar spelling word for JIMSON WEED
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