Species

Atropa bella-donna

Etymology

Atropa: Named after Atropus 'unturnable', one of the Three Fates or Moirai of Greek mythology from whom there was no escape, alluding to the poisonous berries.

Common Name(s)

deadly nightshade

Authority

Atropa bella-donna L.

Family

Solanaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Exotic

NVS Species Code

ATRBEL

The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Herbs other than Composites

Flower Colours

Red / Pink,Violet / Purple

Year Naturalised

1904

Origin

Europe, W. Asia, N. Africa

References and further reading

 

“All parts of the plant are extremely poisonous to humans because of the presence of tropane alkaloids, including hyoscyamine and hyoscine. These alkaloids are also found in other solanaceous genera such as Hyoscyamus (henbane), Mandragora(mandrake) and Datura (thorn apple). These substances interfere with the function of the parasympathetic nervous system, disrupting involuntary bodily processes. Despite its extreme toxicity, deaths from accidental nightshade poisoning are rare. Some animals appear unaffected by the toxins, perhaps explaining the plant's effective seed distribution. The presence of significant quantities of atropine in meat and honey have been reported to produce secondary poisoning in humans. Physostigmine, extracted from the Calabar bean (Physostigma venenosum), can be an effective antidote.

Plants producing tropane alkaloids have historical associations with murder through poisoning. 

As with many extremely poisonous plants, useful medicinal extracts have been isolated from Atropa, including the tropane alkaloid atropine. Atropine is used to regulate heart rate and as an antidote for poisoning by organophosphates and nerve agents, such as sarin. The United States Army even provides its soldiers who are at risk from chemical weapon attacks with self-medication kits containing atropine sulphate. Most famously, atropine dilate the pupil of the eyes; during the European Renaissance it was used cosmetically, and apparently gives rise to the specific epithet belladonna (beautiful lady). During the nineteenth century, the use of Atropa in some medical preparations led to inadvertent poisoning.” https://herbaria.plants.ox.ac.uk/bol/plants400/Profiles/AB/Atropa 

This page last updated on 9 Apr 2018