COMMON NAMES
Toloache

DESCRIPTION
D. inoxia, known as Toloache in Mexico, was one of the plants of the gods among the Aztecs and other Indians.

A low-growing, spreading perennial with hairy 2- to 5 inch leaves. The flowers are white, 6 to 8 inches long, sometimes tinged with rose or violet, fragrant and ten-lobed. The fruit is spiny, 2 inches or more in diameter. Native to the Southwest and Mexico. Due to not-uncommon confusion in the naming of plant species, it appears that D. inoxia and D. meteloides are alternate names for the same species.

The seeds take 3 to 5 weeks to sprout and should be started in damp peat moss. Do not pre-soak the seeds. Plants should be spaced 3 to 4 feet apart. Cultivated as an annual in the North.

From the Allies catalog :
Beautiful large showy perennial with white colored trumpets. Toloache has a history in California as part of a puberty initiation rite, in some areas being at the heart of a tribes entire religious system. A sophisticated, symbolic death rebirth theme was developed and each youth assigned a "sitter" to help him through the ordeal. More often than not this was a male oriented ritual. Again, an extremely simple explanation of what has been a very important tradition for male youth in tribal situations. Dried roots were prepared in hot water infusion in ceremonial vessels that were kept from sight when not in use. The elixir was taken and the intoxication an essential part of the journey.

IMAGES
Close-up of fruit
Branch with fruit and emerging flower
More Datura inoxia Images