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Atropa belladonna (Belladonna)
Atropa belladonna (Belladonna,
Nightshade)
Atropa belladonna is a perennial branching
herb growing to 5 feet tall, with 8 inch long ovate
leaves. The leaves in first-year Atropa belladonna plants
are larger than those of older plants. The flowers are
bell-shaped, blue-purple or dull red, followed by a
shiny, black or purple 0.5 inch berry.Native of Europe
and Asia.
In earlier times in Italy, extracts of belladonna
were used to dialate their eyes for cosmetic purposes;
such use explains the origin of the common name (Italian,
"beautiful woman"). Belladonna was also an
important ingredient in Witches brew during the Middle
ages, often being equated with aggressive female sexuality.
A flying ointment salve was made from this plant along
with others, and rubbed on the bodies of women to experience
erotic sensations and hallucinations. Experiments have
shown that the subjective sensation of flight was a
common theme with subjects under the influence of solanaceous
compounds, not unlike what was reportedly experienced
by witches.
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