Deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna) is a well-known, hardy perennial shrub, also known as belladonna. It is native to Europe, North Africa, and West Asia. It has become naturalized in parts of Italian word for beautiful woman, as women used an extract of the plant to dilate their pupils for cosmetic purposes.

Deadly nightshade, true to its name, is one of the most toxic plants to be found in the Western hemisphere. Children have been poisoned by as few as three of the berries, and a small leaf thoroughly chewed can be a fatal dose for an adult. The root, however, is often the most toxic part, though this can vary from one specimen to another.

The plant is not as common in the wild as many field guides may suggest, as it is readily attacked by mint flea beetles in the wild, and has a very low tolerance for sunlight.

However, in areas where it has become naturalized it can often be found in shady, moist areas with a limestone rich soil.

Classification

It is a member of the nightshade family.

Description

The plant has dull green leaves. The flowers are bell shaped and are a dull, unremarkable shade of purple, which yield shiny black berries about 1cm in diameter. It is an herbaceous shrub, and can grow to be about one metre tall. The leaves have an unctuous, "poison ivy" like feel to them, and they can indeed cause vesicular pustular eruptions if handled carelessly. Many animals, such as rabbits, birds, and deer, seem to eat the plant with impunity, not suffering any deleterious effects, though dogs and cats are affected. Many (possibly apocryphal) reports suggest that some humans have been poisoned simply by eating animals that have eaten some of the leaves.

Germination is often difficult due to the presence of germination inhibitors in the seeds. Because of its name, it is not common as a garden plant. It is a weed in some places. It is not as hardy a perennial as the literature would lead one to believe, and will not tolerate transplantation. Germination requires several weeks in warm, moist, absolutely sterile soil, so it is not likely this plant will be infesting your garden any time soon.

Uses

Medicine

berries

All parts of the plant, especially the berries, contain the extremely toxic alkaloid atropine. The approximate lethal dose for an adult is three berries, though fewer can be fatal. Symptoms of belladonna poisoning are the same as those for atropine and include dilated pupils, tachycardia, hallucinations (indistinguishable from reality), blurred vision, loss of balance, a feeling of flight, staggering, a sense of suffocation, paleness followed by a red rash, flushing, husky voice, extremely dry throat, constipation, urinary retention, and confusion. The skin can completely dry out and slough off. Fatal cases have a rapid pulse that turns feeble. The antidote is the same as for atropine.

The plant is the most important source of atropine, an effective cure for the effects of poisoning by potent cholinesterase inhibitors . (e.g. Parathion, Malathion, and most infamously, Sarin, VX, and similar nerve agents.) In Europe, it is cultivated for that reason. Occasionally, the plants are used for recreational purposes, though this is dangerous for obvious reasons. The effects of even a slight poisoning are so unpleasant that the recreational user is unlikely to attempt its use again, if he/she survives at all.

Cosmetics

In times past, an extract of Belladonna (the plant) was used by Belladonnas (the human variety)as eyedrops.

This was done as part of their makeup preparations. The atropine content of the fluid had the effect of dilating the pupil, thus making their eyes supposedly more attractive. It had the side effect of making their vision a little blurry and making their heart rates increase.

Dilated pupils are considered more attractive (especially with females) because pupils normally dilate when a person is aroused, thus making eye contact much more intense than it already is.

Optometrists and opthamologists use Belladonna to this day for pupil dilation in eye examinations, though the dose is extremely small.

Witchcraft

According to practitioners of witchcraft, nightshade is ruled by Hecate and can turn into an old hag on Walpurgis Night. It is also used in flying ointments. Of the twelve recipes for flyng ointments, six call for deadly nightshade.

According to legend, this is the favorite plant of the devil, and only be harmed when he is diverted from its care on the Walpurgis. (April 30)

Links

• Belladonna (http://www.shadowplayzine.com/Articles/belladonna.htm) in flying ointments