Deadly Nightshde (Atropa belladonna). - Flower Portraits
Deadly Nightshde (Atropa belladonna). This species is a highly poisonous member of the Solanaceae which is the family that embraces tomatoes, aubergines, potatoes and capsicums. The fruits and tubers might be edible but their green parts are posionous ...they contain tropane alkaloids such as Atropine, scopolamine and hyoscyamine which are also presetn in the more poisonous members of other genera within the family: (Brugsmania, Datura (Thorn apple) and Hyoscyamus Henbane). Deadly nightshade, thorn apple and Henbane have long been favoured constituents of witches' and murders' potions. Atropine has medicla uses through its ability to regulate involuntary such as sweating, breathing heart rate and pupila dialtion (hence its use in eye surgery). All parts of Atropa belladonna are posionous and cause narcois and paralysis in humans and domestic animals though both cattle and rabbits seem able to eat it. The berries are large, shining and black and appealing to children...Mt Amiata, Tuscany, Italy, June 2020


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