Came across this intriguing plant called angel's trumpet or trumpet flower as we were on a field visit in Brgy. Don Faustino Pagaduan in Diffun, Quirino. This plant is a very woody shrub and bears colorful trumpet like flowers. This plant is very intriguing because some locals here claim that its flowers, when boiled and ingested, gives a hallucinating effect like that of a drug. Rumor has it that t's very addictive and its effect could be compared if not stronger to that of illegal drugs like shabu or marijuana.
According to research however, every part of the angel trumpet is highly poisonous, including the leaves, flowers, seeds and roots. All contain the toxic alkaloids scopolamine, atropine and hyoscyamine, which are widely synthesized into modern medicinal compounds but are deadly poisonous if used outside a doctor's supervision.
This household claims to have planted the shrub only for ornamental reasons. But angel trumpets pose a risk to humans and animals alike when grown in home gardens. However, it is possible to minimize the risk while allowing the plant's ornamental traits to shine. There is something mysterious behind its beautiful flowers. I'd cut this one down if it were mine.
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