The characteristics of Brugmansia

Brugmansia is a shrub plant belonging to the Solanaceae family. It is also colored «Angel Trumpet» Due to its flowers in the shape of trumpets that fall.

Originally from South America, two explorers: Alexander von Humboldt and Aimé Bonpland, who discovered the plant at the beginning of the 19th century. He was later nominated by Sebald Justinus Brugmans, professor of Natural History at the University of Leyde, born in 1763 and died in 1819.

The plant was always confused with the genre Dating. In fact, this, like Brugmansia, also has trumpet flowers.

The use of the plant, the orientation of flowers, the shape of the fruits and the way of reproductions allow to distinguish them.

Brugmansia is a shrub whose flowers are falling. The fruits do not include spicy. From a reproduction point of view, Brugmansia has two reproduction methods:

• For refusal: The plant emits the mother's foot.
• Seeds: The spread of seeds is guaranteed by the explosion of the fruit.

Datura, on the other hand, is a herbaceous plant. Its flowers are erected and the fruits are spicy. It is an annual plant that spreads from the explosion of the fruit that contains a large number of seeds.

Despite these differences, the two plants are very similar. They are both very dangerous and can cause serious poisoning.

The characteristics of Brugmansia

Originally from the Andes, more precisely in Bolivia and Peru where it grows up to 3,700 meters above sea levelBrugmansia has acclimatized in all continents. Currently, it grows spontaneously in the Antilles and Oceania. In Europe and the United States, the plant has been adapted. However, he prefers climates and soils that are both humid and warm.

All its parts, leaves at the roots, pass through flowers and fruits, they are toxic. SAP contains scopolamine, atropine and very toxic Ioscianin.

In Latin America, Brugmansia is used as a poison and as a medicine. The plant is known with different names. Thanks to its magnificent colors, it's called «Angels Pipes». However, due to its toxic properties, it is also called «demons tree».

Scopolamine, which is a hypnotic substance extracted from this plant, is sometimes used by individuals for dishonest purposes. These people can «chemically hypnotize» their victims before robbing them without realizing it. When they wake up, the victims remember nothing.

Cultivated for millennia in the Peruvian Andes, the genre Bangmania Blood It is used to invent preparations that allow you to enter a very violent trance. Because of its toxicity, the use of the plant is reserved for expert shamans.

In Colombia and in the northern part of Peru, it is the Aurea Brugmansia That the shamans use but the result obtained is the same.

According to Colombian beliefs, the plant is inhabited by a bad spirit that seriously punishes those who have no respect.

The different varieties of Brugmansia

In general, the flowers of Brugmansia are white or yellow. But we also notice the existence of species or variety with more colorful shades, as well as especially with double or triple flowers.

In addition to its toxicity, One of the main characteristics of the flower lies in its perfume. The flower expands a sweet and very pleasant perfume that is revealed only in the evening. This attracts night insects. In its original habitat, bats are among the main pollinators.

There are at least seven species of Brugmansia and many hybrids of different colors.

The arborea brugmansia : Even called white drugs, the shrub can reach 3 meters in height. The flowers are white and have a length of up to 30 centimeters.

Brummania Berea isIn Brugmansia or: This plant reaches 2-4 meters high. The flowers are yellow. In the evening, this species emanates a pleasant smell that attracts butterflies and various insects.

BRUMMANIA SACUINEA or bloody Brugmansia: It has orange, red or yellow flowers, which emit an intoxicating aroma. Bloody Brugmans is among the most surprising species. Normally, tolerate the frost up to less seven degrees.

The Brugmansia Suavelens or fragrant Brugmansia: The plant can reach 5 meters in height. The flowers are white or light yellow in color. The leaves, on the other hand, have an oval shape.

Brigmania Ferisicolor : It has large white inflorescences. This white color can acquire a pèche or apricot tone over time.

Remarkable brugmansia : Brugmansia Remarkable: The flowers of this species can vary from white to pink, including yellow. The leaf, generally thin, has wavy edges. It stands out for rapid growth and abundant inflorescences.

The volcanicola brugmansia : Volcanic Brugmania is a rare species. It has a pink or orange inflorescence. To develop well, it needs a temperature greater than 27 ° C.

Currently, it is difficult to find species of origin that have a very high degree of purity. This is due to the fact that most of the species of origin are fertile with each other. Spontaneous hybrids are therefore very common in nature.

The hybrid known varieties come from forced or artificial pollings. This consists in the transfer of pollen from the stamens of a flower to the stigma of another flower.

From this mode of pollination, we get a new hybrid that we know the parents with certainty.

In general, the most magnificent hybrids are artificial hybrids with double flowers:

Brugmansia «Exotic angels» : This variety with brilliant pink flowers is suitable for the culture of the vase.

Brugmansia «Angels Summerseet» : It has yellow flowers. This variety is also grown in a pot.
Brugmansia «double apricot» : As the name suggests, the flowers of this variety are dense and double, with a light apricot color.

Brugmansia «Langenbuscher Garden» : This variety also has very fragrant double flowers, bright orange.

Brugmansia «Maya» : The flowers are white and yellow yellow. The plant is suitable for the cultivation of the dish.

Usemania «perfection for salmon» : The very dense and double flowers of this variety of white hatch. Then they change color and gradually become slightly orange pink.

Brugmania » Double white »: This particularly spectacular variety has generous pure white flowers. It was this flowering that earned his name «Trumpet of Angels».

Brugmania » Double red »: With its large double flowers with beautiful brick red tones, this species is very spectacular. The flower has a peak of perfume at dawn and sunset.

In short, Brugmansia, better known as the trumpet of the angels, is surprising. It is a small shrub that is used as an ornamental plant. It is particularly characterized in summer by abundant floraisons with intoxicating perfumes.