A T R O P A Belladonna.
Dwa /e , or Deadly Nightßade.-
P E N T A N D RIA Mohogynia.
Ö e n . C h a r . Cor. bell-fhaped. Siam, diftarit. Berry
fuperior, o f two cells.
Spec. C har. Stem herbaceous. Leaves ovate, undivided.
S yn. Atropa Belladonha. Linn. Sp. PI. 260. Hudf.
93. JVitb. 25a. ReJh. 90. Sibth. 78. Abbot. $ 1.
Curt. Lond. fafc. 5.'/. 16. Woodv. Med. Bot.
..t. 1.
Belladonna. Rail Syn. 265.
N- hedges and wafte-ground, more efpecially on a calcareous
foil, but happily not very frequent at prefent,' it having by com-
mon confent been generally eradicated. The caftle-hill at
Caftle-acre, Norfolk, was a few years ago over-run with it.
Indeed it generally occurs about ruined cables and mo'na-
fteries. Sir T. Frankland found it at Knarefborough, and near
Sir Walter Vavafor’s at Haflewood, Yorkthire.' The flowers
appear in June, and the fruit ripens in AugUft.
Root perennial, creeping, thick, flefliv, whitilh. Stems annual,
ereft, about' 3 feet high, branched, leafy, round. Leaves
lateral, in pairs, one Smaller than its companion, ovate, entire,-
of a dull green. Flowers on folitary, Ample, axillary flower-
flalks, drooping. Corolla of a dull purplilh hue, truly expref-
Ave of the lurid poifonous tribe to which it belongs. Berry
about the flze of a fmall cherry, but flatter, of a Alining black,
its juice of a flne and lalling violet. Seeds numerous.
This is perhaps the moft dangerous Britifli plant. Its fruit
is tempting in appearance, fweetifli, and without any remarkable
or repulflve flavour,-, fo that children have often eaten it,-
and even half a berry is faid to have proved fatal. If occaflons:
a deep and deadly ftupor. A draught of vinegar, and keeping
the patient walking to prevent fleep, are faid to be the furelt
means of cure. As this poifon is not corrofive, and a&sfolely
on the nerves, oil is not fo beneflcial, and emetics do not take
effeft. . . .
The leaves given internally in infuflon,- and applied externally,
have been much recommended in cancers; but the fuf-
ft-rings of the patient under ever fo fmall a dofe are dreadful.-
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