Attractive, psychoactive, dangerous. Found in scrub and woodland, the deadly nightshade lives up to its name. Though highly poisonous, it feeds woodland animals and even has medicinal properties.
Its leaves are poisonous and grow in an alternate pattern on stalks. Despite its toxicity, medicines have been made from deadly nightshade. Leaves: oval-shaped, untoothed with smooth edges and pointed ends.
They grow on stalks in an alternate pattern and are poisonous. Flowers: bell-shaped with purple and green colouration, around 2. Fruit: shiny black berries with five sepals visible where the fruit attaches to the plant.
The berries are also highly poisonous. Not to be confused with: bittersweet, known as woody nightshade, which has the same colour flowers as deadly nightshade. However, the flowers of bittersweet have noticeable yellow anthers and are suspended from purple stems.
Other non-toxic plants from the nightshade family include tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, tobacco, chili peppers and jimsonweed. The upper leaves are in pairs, the lower alternate, oval, pointed at both ends, soft, of a dark-green color above, but lighter beneath. The flowers are axillary, pedunculated and form cylindrical purple bells. They are succeeded by a berry which is at first green, then red, and when ripe, of a dark purple color, and closely resembles a cherry in appearance.
It contains in two separate cells a number of kidney-shaped seeds, and its juice has a sickly sweetish taste. The root is fleshy and creeping. All parts of the plant exhale a nauseous and rank odor, and are pervaded by its narcotic principle. The edition of the United States Dispensatory describes the medicinal properties of belladonna as. Among its first obvious effects, when taken in the usual dose, and continued for some time, are dryness and stricture of the fauces and neighboring parts, with slight uneasiness or giddiness of the head, and dimness of vision.
In medicinal doses, it may also occasion dilatation of the pupil, decided frontal headache, slight delirium, colicky pains and purging, and a scarlet efflorescence of the skin; but this last effect is rare.
In large quantities, belladonna produces the most deleterious effects. It is in fact a powerful poison, and many instances are recorded in which it has been taken with fatal consequences. All parts of the plant are active, but the leaves are the only area of the plant recognized as official by pharmacopeias of the midth century for medicinal purposes. Distribution Mainly found in Central and Southern England. Habitats Grassland Heathland and moorland Woodland.
Did you know? Although the berries might be the most tempting part of Deadly nightshade, all parts of this plant are poisonous if ingested. It causes a range of symptoms including blurred vision, a rash, headaches, slurred speech, hallucinations, convulsions and eventually death. How people can help Although they might not look especially wildlife-friendly, our roadside verges, railway cuttings and waste grounds can provide valuable habitats for all kinds of plants and animals.
The Wildlife Trusts are involved in many projects to make these places as beneficial for wildlife as possible. We have a vision of a Living Landscape: a network of habitats stretching across town and country that allow wildlife to move about freely and people to enjoy the benefits of nature.
Support this greener vision for the future by joining your local Wildlife Trust.
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