Black Belladonna

Atropa belladonna L.

Family: Solanaceae (nightshade family)

Synonyms

Deadly nightshade, death cherries, devil’s berries

Description

A perennial herbaceous plant (shrub) growing up to 150 centimetres tall, with smooth-edged leaves, found in clear-cut areas and along roadsides. During the flowering season from June to August, the belladonna bears brownish-purple, four-centimetre-long, drooping flowers. The juicy, blue-black, glossy, sweet-tasting berries resemble cherries and ripen from July to October. 

All parts of the plant, but particularly the leaves and seeds, contain toxins (tropane alkaloids: hyoscyamine, scopolamine).

Symptoms of poisoning

• Following contact with the mouth and ingestion, rapid onset of skin redness, dry mucous membranes, restlessness, confusion, elevated body temperature, vomiting, hallucinations, thirst, rapid breathing and vomiting.

First Aid

• Remove any plant matter from the mouth if possible.
• If swallowed, give the person a cup of water or tea to drink.
• If you suspect oral ingestion, contact a Poison Centre immediately.
• If the child has ingested a large amount or is showing symptoms and a Poison Centre cannot be reached immediately, call an ambulance.