Some help with a puzzling plant please

[mawmail]

This little beauty has taken root beneath my parent’s bird table. The suspicion is it's grown from something dropped by one of the birds but I've yet to find anyone who can identify it.

It looks like some kind of thistle, but the pods are definitely seeds pods (as shown in the photos). The leaves have a distinct odour which is stronger if they are scratched or broken.

My parents are keen gardeners but are lost on this one and would like some idea as to what to do with it. They've kept it as a curiosity through this year (from early this spring when it was first noticed) but would like some ideas as to how to deal with it over the winter and prevent it from spreading.

Any help much appreciated.

[Miranda]

It's Jimson Weed, Datura stramonium. You should find this interesting: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimson_weed - better not to handle it really, as apparently it can have affects on some people just from being handled.

[Summer House]

Your dead right Miranda it is Thorn Apple or Angel's Trumpet there is a message earlier in the Forum about the same plant. Be careful it is very POISONOUS.

[digger]

oooh it looks like an evil alien maybe it's a triffid hybrid??

[Miranda]

Interesting looking plant, though. I found out about it after my OH's mum found it growing in her garden and asked me what it was.

I asked about online and had a bizarre anecdotal story told to me about a group of friends who had tried it in the '70s. One spent the night in the cells, but thought he was at a wild party, while one of the others spent two days hiding in a cupboard. For myself, think I prefer a couple of glasses of a nice red...

[mawmail]

Thanks everyone. Just knowing what it is will cheer my parents up no end. I don't like the idea of leaving something like this around though, so any suggestions for removing it?

And no, I too preffer a nice red so no hints in that direction please...

[Paul Narramore]

I saw an example of this growing in the World Garden at Lullingstone Castle recently. It's very striking with glossy dark green leaves and it's squashed bell flowers. I spoke to Tom Hart Dyke about it and he said that he'd just cast some seeds about in the Spring and this great shrub came up. It was about chest height and over 10ft across. I hadn't heard about it's narcotic effects. (Miranda, Would that be Cab Sauv or Shiraz? Me? I'm a fan of Zinfandel:D )

[Miranda]

I like all of those, Paul, and also what we call Ronnie's Coat (you should be able to work that one out ;)). A lot of wines are getting too strong these days, though - prefer the 12% ones.

When I was finding out about that plant I read that it pops up in agricultural land in France and that farmers have been hospitalised after pulling it up by hand, although that was no doubt many plants and not just the one. I'd recommend gloves!