Mojave National Preserve, April 2014

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Hallucinogenic and Toxic

I first learned about Sacred Datura when I read Carlos Castenda’s The Teachings of Don Juan in high school. Known as a hallucinogen, all parts of the plant are also highly toxic and can be fatal if ingested. However the flowers are lovely to look at and have a nice scent. They bloom at night and close by noon and are pollinated by nocturnal visitors, usually moths.