This seedpod is a mystery to me.
I found it alongside the path through Grangemoor Park in Cardiff, just two dried up stems about 12 inches tall, with seedpods – four in total – at the tips of each branched stem. No leaves remained and I saw no other similar plants anywhere along the path.
The structure of the seedpod is glorious, so sculptural. I brought two pods home with me, and one has now split into quarters, with small brown seeds spilling out of it.
But what is this plant? I’ve tried looking online but found nothing that matches. Of course, the solution would be to plant the seeds but I do not have a garden. I could try planting a couple of seeds in a pot but I’d rather return the seeds to the wild where I found them. So, if there are any botanists or plant people out there who recognise this seedpod, please do let me know in the comments below. Thanks!
p.s. Thanks to Barbara Brown, of BSBI Wales, I now know this is a species of Datura, possibly Datura stramonium, the Thorn-apple. In this case, the seedpod has lost all its flesh making it look a little different from the images I’ve found online.
Toffeeapple said:
That’s a new one on me; isn’t it beautifully formed?
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sconzani said:
It is a beautiful object. 🙂
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jonwallis said:
Hi sconzani.
That’s a rather wonderful-looking thing.
Sadly, I’ve no idea what it is, but I took the liberty of asking about it on a plant id forum, and a couple of people suggested Datura stramonium
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jonwallis said:
Sorry! I hadn’t seen the other comment or your update when I replied.
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sconzani said:
No problem at all. It’s good to have the additional confirmation. 🙂
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sconzani said:
Yes, our sources agree. Thanks so much for going to the trouble, Jon, I really appreciate it. 🙂
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Val said:
I found another like it but still can’t find out what it is!
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sconzani said:
Well done! Yes, that’s it – and I’ve now found out what it is and updated the blog – it’s a Datura.
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Val said:
Oh, good! (I had a look at Datura, but couldn’t find a pic that was quite like it.)
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Val said:
It looks like some sort of thistle.
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