Brugmansia suaveolens, commonly known as the Brazilian White Angel’s Trumpet, is a flowering plant in the nightshade family (Solanaceae). Native to southeastern Brazil, it is now considered extinct in the wild. This article explores the plant’s characteristics, habitat, ecology, uses, cultivation, and toxicity.
Photo: Kolforn
Description
Brugmansia suaveolens is a semi-woody shrub or small tree that can reach 3–5 meters in height, often featuring a multi-branched trunk. Its oval leaves can grow up to 25 cm long and 15 cm wide, and they often become larger when grown in shaded conditions.
The plant produces large, trumpet-shaped flowers that are typically white in the wild, with yellow or pink varieties in cultivation. The blooms are sweetly fragrant in the evening and hang downward or extend horizontally from the plant.
The species has been extensively propagated, which has resulted in a wide range of cultivated varieties available today.
Taxonomy
The species was first described by Carl Ludwig Willdenow in 1809 as Datura suaveolens and was later reclassified as Brugmansia suaveolens by Friedrich von Berchtold and Jan Presl in 1823. Local names include Maikoa, Huanduc, Maikiua, Tompeta del juicio, Tsuaak, Toe, Wahashupa, Peji, Bikut, Ohuetagi, Ain-vai, Baikua, Canachiari, and Ishauna.
Distribution and Habitat
Originally, Brugmansia suaveolens was endemic to the coastal rainforests of southeastern Brazil. Human activity has introduced it to residential areas across much of South America, and it can occasionally be found in Central America, Mexico, California, Greece, Africa, and parts of Florida.
Ecology
The flowers emit a strong evening fragrance to attract pollinating moths. The plant’s life cycle consists of two main stages: a vegetative phase, during which it grows upward, and a flowering phase, when it produces blooms.
Uses
Extracts from the flowers have demonstrated pain-relieving effects in laboratory studies on mice. Traditionally, the plant has been used for medicinal purposes in certain South American cultures, including as a hallucinogen.
Cultivation
Brugmansia suaveolens is widely grown as an ornamental shrub in frost-free climates. It prefers rich, organic soil, frequent watering, and heavy fertilization during the growing season. The plant can be propagated from cuttings and thrives in sunny locations. While wild types can be grown from seeds, hybrids propagated this way may produce different characteristics in the offspring.
Toxicity
All parts of Brugmansia suaveolens are toxic, especially the seeds and leaves. The plant contains alkaloids that can cause serious symptoms, including hallucinations and death, if ingested.
