Did you know:
- Atropa belladonna is the strangest and deadliest member of the tomato family.
- The name Atropa comes from the Greek goddess Atropa – one of the three fates who determine human life and death.
- Belladonna is Italian for “beautiful lady.” This poison has historically been used by women as a cosmetic eye drop to dilate the pupils, making the user appear more desirable.
- Its common name is Deadly Nightshade.
- Belladonna has dull green leaves, purple bell-shaped flowers, and shiny black berries that are sweet to the taste.
- All parts of the plant are highly toxic to people, though cattle and rabbits seem to have a natural immunity.
- Deadly Nightshade grows in woods, hedgerows, and wastelands.
- Before the Middle Ages it was used as an anesthetic in surgery.
- Witches were said to mix Deadly Nightshade with other poisons to create a flying ointment (which may have triggered the hallucination of flight).
- According to local folklore, the Lancashire Witches sometimes mixed belladonna berries into blackcurrant or blueberry pies as toxic “gifts” for their enemies!
Sources:
Stuart, Malcolm. The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Herbalism (London: Black Cat, 1987)
WebMD: “Belladonna” at http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-531-belladonna.aspx?activeingredientid=531&activeingredientname=belladonna
Wikipedia: “Atropa belladonna” at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atropa_belladonna
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