Belladonna (Atropa belladonna)
History And Description Of Belladonna
Atropa belladonna is the botanical name of the plant more commonly known as belladonna. Other common names for belladonna include atropa, deadly nightshade, death's herb, dwale, and witch's berry.
The Atropa genus (that Atropa belladonna belongs to) is a member of the Solanaceae (more commonly known as the nightshade or potato) family of plants. The Solanaceae family also includes capsicum (used to make paprika and chili pepper), eggplant, jimsonweed, mandrake, petunia, potato, tobacco, and tomato plants.
In some older botanical classifications, the mandrake plant was considered a species belonging to the Atropa genus. It was given the name Atropa mandragora. However, more recent botanical classifications put mandrake in the Mandragora genus, under the name Mandragora officinarum.
Scientific Classification Of Atropa belladonna
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Solanales
Family: Solanaceae
Genus: Atropa
Species: Atropa belladonna
Belladonna is native to Europe and Asia. Some say it originated in India. It has been cultivated on almost all continents for centuries. During that time, it has been used for its hallucinogenic effects and medical properties (which there are many).
History Of Atropa belladonna
Atropa belladonna is speculated to have been used by Juliet, in Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet, in her sleeping potion. According to old legends, the plant belongs to the devil who takes care of it as the need arises, and only takes a night off once a year. That date is Walpurgis, when he prepares for the witches' sabbath.
Historically, belladonna derivatives have been used as an antidote to many poisonous substances, including chloroform, opium, and the deadly insecticide, parathion.
The generic name of the plant, Atropa, comes from the Greek word Atropos, one of the Fates who held the shears to cut the thread of human life and cause death. A reference to the poisonous nature of belladonna.
Before World War I, most belladonna came from wild plants in Southern Europe. At this time, the belladonna industry was important to Croatia and Slavonia.
The yearly production rate for these areas at that time was thought to be about 60 to 100 tons of dry leaves and 150 to 200 tons of dry root a year.
Today, belladonna is still a very important plant in the scientific and medical communities because of the chemicals it contains. All parts of the plant contain alkaloids, but the highest content is in the ripe fruit and the green leaves.
Belladonna is still being harvested wild in some areas, much as it has been for centuries. In the United States, the plant is cultivated in Pennsylvania, Ohio, California and Wisconsin. Some American farms even export to Europe.
The seeds are extremely small. As many as 10,000 plants will germinate from one or two ounces of seed.
Description Of Atropa belladonna
Belladonna comes from the Italian words meaning beautiful lady. Which is probably a reference to the Italian women who used to dilate their pupils by placing a drop of belladonna in each eye, making them more beautiful in the eyes of Italian men.
The juice of the plant was also used by some to cause their skin to appear more pale, another desired attribute of women at that time.
Belladonna is a strong, hardy plant that grows to a height of two to five feet when mature. The flowering starts in late June or July and lasts until the beginning of autumn, when the deep purple flowers drop off.
The dark green oval leaves are usually dull looking. Hairs can occur on young stems and leaves. The fresh plant smells very bad when crushed, but after the plant has dried, the odor is almost non existent.
The shiny black berries contain several seeds and are about the size of a cherry when they mature in September. The juice from the berries is sweet, and this can and has attracted the curious taste buds of children.
In fact another term for belladonna is 'deadly nightshade' and that is at least partially derived from the number of infant deaths associated with this plant. You can find an image of the belladonna plant here and the berry here.
All parts of the plant may prove to be poisonous even when taken in small quantities. The sweet black berries are especially so. Some people have reported eating up to ten of the berries and survived, but children have died from eating just two or three. Ten to twenty will kill most adults.
How severe the reaction is depends on several factors, the toxicity of the individual plant is the most obvious reason, but physical condition and age of the consumer also play a role.
Symptoms of belladonna poisoning include fever, dry mouth, rapid pulse, dilation of pupils, headache, difficulty swallowing, hallucinations, and convulsions eventually leading to death.
It is said that when taken by accident, the poisonous effects of belladonna berries may be prevented by swallowing (as soon as possible) an emetic, such as a large glass of warm vinegar or mustard and water.
In undoubted cases of this poisoning, emetics and the stomach-pump are resorted to at once, followed by a dose of magnesia, stimulants and strong coffee, the patient being kept very warm and artificial respiration being applied if necessary.
Belladonna and opium appear to exert the opposite effects, especially as regards their action on the brain, the spinal cord, and heart. They can be used as antidotes to each other in cases of overdose and poisoning.
For cases of belladonna overdose, morphine or another opium based drug can be used. For cases of heroin, morphine, and other opioid related overdoses, belladonna can be used.
A symptom of belladonna poisoning is the complete loss of voice, together with frequent bending forward of the trunk and continual movements of the hands and fingers, the pupils of the eye becoming much dilated.
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Comprehensive reference work about psychoactive plants. Lists the plant's common name, botanical name, historical ethnography, purpose of use, preparation, chemical composition, and effects. Includes color and black and white photographs, illustrations, and paintings, a bibliography and index.
Plant species discussed include the Fly Agaric mushroom, Atropa (Deadly Nightshade), Yellow and Black Henbane, Mandrake, Cannabis, Ergot, Datura, Iboga, Yopo beans, Ayahuasca, Yage, Brugmansia, Peyote, San Pedro cactus, Morning Glory, Magic Mushrooms and more. Contains six pages of text and several images of Belladonna and related plants.
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Very nice book and considering the subject matter, it's easy to understand. The botany, history, distribution, cultivation, preparation and dosage of more than 400 psychoactive plants. Over 900 pages with hundreds of black and white illustrations and full color photographs.
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