Deadly nightshade
| Deadly nightshade | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Magnoliophyta |
| Class: | Magnoliopsida |
| Order: | Solanales |
| Family: | Solanaceae |
| Genus: | Atropa |
| Species: | A. belladonna |
| Binomial name | |
| Atropa belladonna L. |
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Deadly nightshade or belladonna (Atropa belladonna) is a well-known, hardy perennial shrub, a member of the nightshade family.
Originally, it grew in Europe, North Africa and Asia. It has also been seen in North America, but is far less common there. Usually it grows in the shade. The plant does not like direct sunlight. Often it grows in places where the soil is rich in limestone.
Belladonna is poisonous [change]
Most parts of the plant, its leaves, its berries are known to be very poisonous. Children have died from eating as little as three berries. One leaf contains enough poison to kill an adult. The root usually contains the most poison.
The poison present in the plant is called Atropine.
Effects of the poison [change]
The effects of Atropine are: Dilated pupils (big), hallucinations, difficulty in seeing (vision may not be as sharp as always, it may be difficult to focus on objects), problems remaining upright, feeling like one is flying, being confused. Also, the pulse of the victim grows faster and faster, and the rate at which the heart is beating will go up.
