Week Twelve: Nightshade

Common Name: Deadly Nightshade, Belladonna, Devil's Cherry
Scientific Name: Atropa belladonna

Not-So-Fun Fact: All parts of the nightshade plant contain the poison alkaloid atropine and the organism has been known to be deadly since ancient times. The genus name, Atropa, stems from the ancient Greek belief in three goddesses, or Fates, who controlled all human destiny by spinning the thread of life. The goddess Atropos was the Fate whose duty it was to cut the thread of life and therefore bring death to her subject.

Domain: Eukaryota

Kingdom: Plantae

Phylum: Magnoliophyta

Class: Magnoliopsida

Order: Solanales

Family: Solanaceae

Genus: Atropa

Species: A. belladonna

Description: Belladonna is a perennial herb that grows to about three feet in height and sprouts pointed ovoid leaves. Even the leaves and stems of the plant produce pus-filled blisters on the skin if touched, and ingestion of the shining, swollen black berries is almost always fatal, though in very small quantities the victim survives the agonizing effects. Symptoms of belladonna poisoning include dilation of the pupils, increased heartbeat, confusion, hallucinations, seizures, and death.

Environment: Belladonna is found over most of Europe, Asia, and North America. European settlers arriving in the Americas were at first distrustful of the similar-looking but fortunately harmless tomato, a fellow member of the Solanaceae family. Belladonna prefers shady, perennially damp plots in which to grow.

Reproduction & Development: Belladonna reproduces sexually. In the spring, purple-brown flowers similar to those of a petunia bloom. Over the summer, small, hard green berries engorge and become bright red, finally fading to black by autumn.

Nutrition: Like all vascular plants, belladonna requires water from the soil and uses photosynthesis to produce energy in its leaves from the sun.