Historical evidence for a pre-Columbian presence of Datura in the Old World and implications for a first millennium transfer from the New World

摘要: Datura (Solanaceae)is a small genus of plants that,for long, was thought to occur naturally in both the New and Old Worlds. However, recent studies indicate that all species originated Americas. This finding has prompted conclusion no could have been present World prior its introduction there by Europeans early 16th century CE. Further, textual evidence traditionally cited support pre-Columbian presence is suggested be due misreading classical Greek Arabic sources. As result, botanists generally accept opinion were transferred into post-Columbian period. While taxonomic geographic for origin appears well supported, assertion not known based on limited examination non-Anglo We draw old Indic texts southern Indian iconographic representations show conclusive at least one World. Given systematic genus, most plausible explanation this relatively but (probably first millennium CE) transfer species, D. metel, Because metel domesticated with disjunct distribution,this might represent an instance human-mediated transport from World, as case sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas).