Iraq’s Interior Ministry has warned farmers to spot the invasive datura plant, nicknamed devil’s trumpet. The weed spreads rapidly in riverbank soils, threatening crops and public health. Authorities urge residents to report sightings as the plant’s toxic alkaloids can harm humans, livestock and native vegetation.

Scientists trace datura’s origin to Central America, where indigenous peoples used its tropane alkaloids—atropine, hyoscyamine and scopolamine—to treat pain and motion sickness. Though prized medicinally, the plant’s potency makes it a dangerous weed, especially in Iraq’s nitrogen‑rich, semi‑arid conditions that favor its rapid growth.

A University of Seville analysis catalogued over 124,000 global sightings, finding 57 % in cold zones—an unexpected adaptation. In Iraq, abandoned farmland from war years offers a ready niche, allowing datura to occupy up to 1 % of the planet’s suitable habitats, a figure that alarmed the Egyptian Desert Research Center.

The Interior Ministry’s campaign blends biological control, pesticide spraying and public alerts, yet experts warn the weed’s latent rapid‑adaptation capacity could push it beyond current borders. As farmers scramble to protect fields, the spread of datura underscores the need for vigilant monitoring and swift eradication tactics in conflict‑impacted regions today.