Citation: F. Muell. ex Benth., Fl. Aust. 4:468 (1868).

Synonymy: D. leichhardtii F. Muell., Trans. Phil. Soc. Vic. 1:20 (1854), nom. nud.

Common name: Native thornapple.

Description:
Stout bushy annual herb 0.2-1.2 m tall, glabrous or sparsely pubescent with non-glandular hairs; leaves rhombic to angularly ovate, 5-8 x 2-4.5 cm, regularly serrate or sinuate with 4-7 entire rounded lobes.

Flowers 4-7 cm long; corolla cream, sometimes pink-tinged towards the limb; lobes 5, not separated by sinuses, the intervening tissue developed into 5 further angular lobules; stigma level with or below the anthers.

Capsule deflexed, globose to broadly ovoid, 2-2.5 x 2-2.5 cm (excluding the spines), breaking irregularly; spines numerous, slender, sharp, of variable length but evenly distributed, the longest less than half the length of the capsule; seeds pale-brown, sometimes greyed, 4-4.8 mm long.

	Flowering branch, spreading corolla lobes, fruit and seed.
Image source: fig. 562C in Jessop J.P. & Toelken H.R. (Ed.) 1986. Flora of South Australia (4th edn).

Published illustration: Everist (1981) Poisonous plants of Australia, pl. 38.

Distribution:  Widespread on river systems of northern (arid) parts of the State, usually in sandy alluvial soil; populations usually scattered. S.Aust.: NW, LE, GT, FR, EA, EP.   W.Aust.; N.T.; Qld; N.S.W.   Endemic to Australia unless D. pruinosa Greenm. from Mexico and Guatemala is regarded as a subspecies. Generally considered native but possibly an early introduction from Central America. Conservation status: native Flowering time: summer.

SA Distribution Map based on current data relating to specimens held in the State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: No text

Author: Not yet available