The name Datura is taken from Hindi धतूरा dhatūra 'thorn-apple', ultimately from Sanskrit धत्तूर dhattūra 'white thorn-apple' (referring to Datura metel of Asia). In the Ayurvedic text Sushruta different species of Datura are also referred to as kanaka and unmatta. Dhatura is offered to Lord Shiva in Hindu/Santana religion. Record of this name in English dates back to 1662. Nathaniel Hawthorne refers to one type in The Scarlet Letter as apple-Peru. In Mexico, its common name is toloache.
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