Angel's Trumpet

Overview

Angel's trumpet is native to Ecuador and Peru. It is naturalized in Mexico, Central America, Madagascar, Australia, New Zealand, the West Indies and on several islands in the Pacific Ocean. The plant was introduced for horticultural purposes, probably during the last part of the nineteenth century. Some South American cultures have also used Brugmansia in religious or spiritual ceremonies.

Vernacular Names

Borrachero (Spanish), Trompette blanche des anges (French), Campana (Cuban), Stechapfel (German), Stramonio candido (Italian), Doornappel (Dutch), Cornucopia (Puerto rican).

Agroecology

Angel's trumpet grows in warm and humid places in lowland rainforest, forest edges, disturbed habitats, riverbanks and urban open spaces. In New Zealand it can be found in lowland areas towards the coast. Thrives on moist soils, well-drained soils, fertile loamy soils. Prefers semi-shade and moderate amount of water.

Morphology

• Stems - pubescent with simple, erect, crisped hairs.
• Leaves - simple, alternate, ovate, to 15-25 cm long, 8-12 cm wide, entire, rarely with a few shallow lobes, apex acute to acuminate, base oblique, petioles up to 6 cm long.
• Flowers - solitary, pendulous, pedicels 3-5 cm long, stout in fruit; calyx tubular, spathe-like, split on 1 side and the lobes not clearly separated, up to 12 cm long; corolla white or pale apricot, 25-30 cm long, tube slender, gradually flaring to the limb, lobe apices broadly triangular and terminated by cusps 2-3 cm long; stamens 5, inserted below middle of corolla tube; filaments 4-5 cm long; anthers distinct, linear, ca 2.5 cm long, opening longitudinally; ovary 2-celled; style 17-19 cm long; stigma oblong, 5-7 mm long, included in corolla throat.
• Fruits - capsule, rarely formed, fusiform, reportedly up to 20 cm long, 2 cm wide, pendulous, unarmed.
• Seeds - reportedly numerous, D-shaped, 6-10 mm long, seed coat corky.

Cultivation

Propagated by seeds and cuttings.

Chemical Constituents

Alkaloids such as scopolamine, hyoscyamine, and atropine.

Traditional Medicinal Uses

As a spasmolytic, antiasthmatic, anticholinergic, has anesthetic properties, analgesic for traumatic or rheumatic pain as well as for the treatment of dermatitis, orchitis, arthritis, headaches, infections, and as an anti-inflammatory.