Name Nerds! goth names Name Nerds main Stumped for a name for your little possibly-changeling baby? Look no further! (note: yeah we know many of these are totally lame). Most would not be that great on a human, but might be OK for a pet or a screen name. For further Gothification, try adding a suffix and compounding some of the names, like Absinthia ChaosDemon, Lachrimaeus OmegaThorn... or not. Name significance (if any) Absinthe If you don't know what this is, you might want to find another subculture to subscribe to. It's an alcoholic beverage made with wormwood (artimisia absinthium), a plant known for its mild hallucinigenic properties. It was very popular among 19th and early 20th century artists. Ague term for Malaria used from the middle ages up until the 20th century. Ahriman evil deity in Persian Zoroastrianism Alcina sorceress in Italian Arthurian legends. Amanita Angel of Death in the Koran.

Balor one-eyed giant in Irish mythology Banshee from Irish bean sidhe meaning "woman spirit; fairy; otherwordly being." The banshee screams when someone is about to die. Bealtaine Celtic holiday-- corresponds with May day (Celtic major festivals are held at mid-points between equinoxes & solstices, not on those days). Beelzebub Semitic god name sometimes used as an alternate for Satan. Belial another name for Satan Belinda a moon of Uranus (snicker, snicker.) The name probably derives from an old word for "serpent." Belladonna poisonous plant with purple flowers (deadly nightshade) Blood duh Bran/Branwen Bran is a Celtic word for "crow." Branwen is apparently a form of Bronwen ("white breast"), altered to include "bran." It would mean white raven. -wen andthe masculine form -wyn are derived from gwen, meaning "white; holy; pure." Breviary Catholic prayer book for priests Briar a thorn Caligula a bizarrely violent and perverted Roman historical figure. Also a movie that has a really smutty version.

Calix/Calixa a Latin name derived for the word for "wine cup.' Candelaria a plant family thought to drive away evil spirits in the middle ages (common name: mullein) Catafalque coffin-shaped box covered with a black cloth used in place of a body if one is not available for the funeral. Chalice fancy cup, used to hold holy blood. Derived from the Latin Calix (see also). Chaos originally, the state of the universe before the Greek Gods arrived. Has come to mean a state of complete disorder. Chimera/Chimaera a mythological beast made up of parts of different animals. Also a word for a grotesque product of the imagination. Chrysanthemum flower associated with death in Japan and some European countries Cinder another name for Azrael (see also) Esmerï¿½e the daughter of a Welsh king who was turned into a serpent by magicians. She was freed by a kiss (Arthurian legend) Eulalie figure in another poem by Edgar Allan Poe.

The name means "well spoken." Eurydice tragic Greek heroine Evilyn it's got the word "evil" in it-- ok, we're grasping at straws here-- I think she was the bad guy on some cartoon in the 80s. Felony a major crime. Think about it, though-- Felony. It sounds like Melanie. Wouldn't it make a nice name? Foxglove a beautiful but poisonous flower Freya Norse goddess of sex and childbirth. She rode around in a chariot pulled by cats. Funereal/funerea put the "fun" in funeral! Gefjun/Gefion Norse goddess to whom virgins went after they died. Gehenna New Testament version of hell Giger H.R. Giger, the guy who designed the aliens for Alien, among other stuff goths like. Golgotha Hebrew for "skull," The skull-shaped hill where Christ was crucified. Grendel beast in Beowulf Griffin/Gryphon Mythological beast with the body of a lion and the wings and head of an eagle. Grigori fallen angels of the Christian bible Grimoire book of incantations, making medicines, summoning spirits etc.

Hades Greek lord of the underworld Hecate Greek sorceress Hellebore flower that blooms through the snow in the middle of winter. Medieval lore suggested it could be used for curing insanity, leprosy and gout. Hemlock poison. Plato took it to commit suicide. Ianthe daughter of the poet Shelley who died in childhood; poem by Lord Byron. The name means 'purple flower' in Greek. Imbolc Celtic festival - corresponds with St. Bridig's day (Feb. 1). Groundhog Day actually stems from this. Inclementia belladonna - a poisonous purple flower. Nimue (NIM oo ay) - an Arthurian sorceress. Also called Niniane. Nin Ogham letter whose kennings include "establishment of peace," and "boast of women." The letter itself is derived from the word for the ash tree. Also the writer Anaïs, or Nine Inch Nails. Nocturne piece of music evoking night. Means "night" November cold, crappy month in the northern hemisphere Obsidian black glass-like stone made from volcanic eruptions. Used in surgical instruments because it is sharper than steel.

October month that Halloween is in Oleander a beautiful but poisonous flower Omega Last letter of the Greek alphabet; signifies the last, or the end. Ophelia tragic Shakespearean heroine Orchid I don't know why, orchids pop up a lot in goth clubs, They're exotic and rare. Orpheus a mass for the dead Sabine/Sabina tribe of Italy that once occupied Rome. Popular legend has Romans kidnapping Sabine women to help populate Rome. Sabrina/Sabre/Sabrenn Goddess of the river Severn in Celtic mythology. Also the Teenage Witch, and Sail/Saile/Salley Ogham letter derived from the Irish name of the willow tree. The Yeats poem "Down By The Salley Gardens" uses this old term for "willow." A kenning used for this letter means "pallor of a lifeless one." Bonus: Sally was the girl doll in A Nightmare Before Christmas. Salem place in Massachusetts where several people were hanged as witches. Samael Angel of death in the Talmud.

Samhain /SOW un/ Celtic festival -- corresponds with Halloween Sanctity Atropa belladonna Photo courtesy of Flickr user peganum All week on Wild Things, we’ll be presenting our favorite dangerous, horrifying, and monstrous plants, excerpted from The Big, Bad Book of Botany: The World’s Most Fascinating Flora by Michael Largo. Out now from William Morrow. Atropa belladonna is a Eurasian perennial with reddish, bell-shaped flowers that bear glossy-coated, black berries. Other names for the plant include belladonna, deadly nightshade, devil’s berries, naughty man’s cherries, death cherries, beautiful death, and devil’s herb. The plant earns its sinister nicknames, as its foliage and berries are extremely toxic, containing potent dosages of tropane alkaloids. Its most common name, belladonna, derives from Italian, meaning “beautiful woman.” Historically, women have used the herb’s oil to dilate and enlarge the pupils for seductive effect. But it’s best known as the plant of choice for assassins through history.

Advertisement A native to Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia, the herb grows wildly in many parts of the United States, mostly in dumps, quarries, near old ruins, under shade trees, or atop wooded hills. Belladonna is a branching plant that often grows to resemble a shrub of about 4 feet in height within a single growing season. Its leaves are long, extending 7 inches, and its bell-shaped flowers are purple with green tinges, about an inch long. The fruit and berries appear green when growing, but, as the toxins get stronger in the ripening stage, turn a shiny black color. Belladonna blooms in midsummer through early fall, and its roots are thick, fleshy, and white, growing to about 6 inches or more in length. Deadly nightshade is one of the most toxic plants in the Eastern Hemisphere. While the roots are the most deadly part, the poisonous alkaloids run through the entirety of the plant. Scopolamine and hyoscyamine are among these toxins, both of which cause delirium and hallucinations. Deadly nightshade berries pose the greatest danger to children, as they are attractive and are deceptively sweet at first bite.

Yet just two berries can kill a child who eats them, and it takes only 10 or 20 to kill an adult. Likewise, consuming even a single leaf can prove fatal to humans. Cattle, horses, rabbits, goats, and sheep can eat deadly nightshade without ill effect, though many pets are vulnerable to its lethal effects. Symptoms of deadly nightshade poisoning present quickly, so if medical aid is far off, drink a large glass of warm vinegar or a mixture of mustard and water, which may dilute and neutralize its toxicity. Though today we understand the risks involved in using deadly nightshade outweigh any potential benefits, it has a long history in medicine and cosmetics, and as a weapon. Ancient Romans harnessed the effects of the plant to make poison-tipped arrows guaranteed to kill, and still others found it an effective anesthesia for surgery, as numbness and drowsiness are side effects of its toxic mix. If you wish to grow your own crop of the herb, soak the seeds in refrigerated water for two weeks, replacing the water daily.

Plant the seeds immediately after two weeks—the young seeds will need sufficient moisture if they’re to germinate successfully, so choose a plot outdoors in May, when there is no fear of frost, and after a strong rain, when the soil is fairly moist. Place the seeds 18 inches apart from one another, and make sure to keep the soil free of weeds or other plants. First-year plants should be thinned out to about 2 1/2 to 3 feet to avoid overcrowding in the next year. Advertisement Because it’s so difficult to grow, belladonna rarely appears in gardens. Though it’s cultivated for medicinal purposes in England, France, and North America, the herb has no major value as food. Some home gardeners plant it for its large, colorful display of berries, but remember: This beauty blooms with no printed warning signs, and it’s a risky and deadly choice to grow it haphazardly. Top Comment The Nightshade family includes potatoes, tomatoes and eggplant. Is the genus described in the article the very same deadly nightshade? You know, you can graft a tomato stem onto a nightshade. More...

-EricNelson745 10 Most Poisonous Plants in the World | Planet Deadly 10 Most Poisonous Plants in the World 0 December 31, 2013 As plants aren’t, by their nature, very mobile they have developed a variety of ways of protecting themselves from all things herbivorous. Many have evolved spikes, stings and even just an unpleasant taste. However, many went down the route of the ultimate deterrent – being so poisonous that anything eating them was unlikely to ever do so again. Many of these deadly poisonous plants are the stuff of folklore and have alarming names such as Devil’s helmet,deadly nightshade, the little apple of death and the suicide tree. Whilst these would be enough to put any sane person off eating them I suppose it only helps if you know the name! Jimsonweed is often listed on other websites as being deadly, along with other Datura plants. I have to say I’ve tried this one personally and lived to tell the tale. So whilst it seems this plant can be deadly, it’s not getting onto my list. 10.

Oleander (Nerium oleander) Oleander / Jericho rose (Nerium oleander) Originally native to Asia, the Jericho rose or oleander is now common throughout Mediterranean regions and is a popular decorative plant in North America. The Italian name for oleander translates as ‘ass killer’, which should be enough to put anyone off eating them! If you did eat a sufficient does then you would start feeling those ‘ass killing’ effects almost straight away with a combination of cardiac and gastrointestinal symptoms. Bloody diarrhea, vomiting, drooling and irregular heart beat may all occur and swift treatment is essential. Toxins such as cardiac glycosides, nerioside and oldendrin all contribute to oleander’s lethal armory. The whole oleander plant is poisonous right down to the nectar. It is said that even the smoke from burning the plant is toxic and there are reports of serious poisoning resulting from using the twigs as cooking skewers. What constitutes a lethal does seems uncertain with some stating as little as one leaf. Another source states 100 grams (3.5oz) is enough to kill a fully grown horse. 9.

White snakeroot (Ageratina altissima) White snakeroot (Ageratina altissima) It is believed that white snakeroot (Ageratina altissima) was responsible for the death of American president, Abraham Lincoln’s mother. She died of what was termed milk sickness which occurred as the result of drinking milk that was tainted with toxins from plants eaten by cows. In the early 19th century thousands of European settlers died in Midwestern America. It was only when a real life Dr Quinn (Anna Bixby) learnt about the properties of snakeroot from an elderly Native American woman that the cause was discovered. The cause of the toxicity is a type of alcohol, tremetol, which gets its name from the tremors it causes in those poisoned. Along with this there would be violent vomiting, delirium, severe thirst and ultimately death. The name snakeroot comes from the fact it can be used as a treatment when applied to snakebites. 8.

Manchineel (Hippomane mancinella) Manchineel Tree (Hippomane mancinella) Photo: Scott Hughes / License Bearing fruits known as ‘little apples of death’ this is a plant to steer well clear of. Found in coastal regions of Florida, South and Central America the manchineel is possibly the world’s most poisonous tree. Whilst the fruit is said to be potentially lethal if eaten it is the tree itself that poses the greatest threat. Every part is stuffed full of powerful toxins, most notably the sap which contains phorbol, a strong skin irritant. Contact with the sap provokes strong allergic dermatitis resulting in blistering of the skin. This is a particular hazard during rain when anyone taking shelter under the tree’s leaves runs the risk of getting splashed with sap-laden raindrops. Even a tiny amount can cause the skin to blister, not surprising as this stuff can strip paint of parked cars too! It is also reported that the smoke from burning the wood can cause blindness. Of course all this potential for pain didn’t go unnoticed.

The Carib natives were said to use the sap on their arrow heads, poison the wells of their enemies with the leaves and even tie some unfortunate victims to the trunk of the tree. 7. Suicide Tree (Cerbera odollam) Suicide tree (Cerbera odollam) Photo: Noppharat With a name like that it is little surprise that this tree is probably responsible for most deaths than any other plant. In the Indian state of Kerala alone it is thought to be responsible for around 50 deaths a year. Despite being called the suicide tree the toxins work equally well for murder and the flavour is easily hidden in a bowl of spicy food. It is in Madagascar where Cerbera claimed most victims. Referred to as ‘ordeal poison’ it was used in the process of ‘trial by ordeal’. Basically, if you survived you were innocent, if you died you were, well, dead… It is estimated that around 3,000 people a year died in these trials, many willingly submitting themselves to the process believing it infallible. Trial by poison was finally abolished in 1861 by King Radama II. It is the seed inside the fruit of this plant that is highly poisonous.

It contains the powerful alkaloid, cerberin, which is similar to digoxin in foxgloves. These both work by disrupting the heart’s rhythm often with fatal results. Cerbera odollam is a member of the same family as the previously mentioned oleander. 6. Deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna) Deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna) Like its family members, the potato and the tomato, deadly nightshade contain the glycoalkaloid poison solanine. However, whereas you might have to eat a truck load of tomatoes to poison yourself, a single leaf of belladonna might do the trick for you. The main toxins in deadly nightshade are atropine, scopolamine and hyoscyamine all of which effect the nervous system by blocking certain neurotransmitters. Whilst all parts of the plant are toxic, the root is generally most poisonous. A dose of around two to five berries is usually sufficient to kill an adult. The classic symptoms of poisoning include dilated pupils, blurred vision, dry mouth, hallucinations, loud heart beats (audible several feet away), aggressive behaviour, convulsions, coma and possibly death.

The effects of the poison are by no means instant and may take from several hours to days to kick in. The name Atropa comes from atropine which in turn is from the Greek goddess who cut the threads of life. Belladonna means ‘beautiful lady’ and refers to the 17th century practice of women putting a small extract of deadly nightshade in their eyes to dilate their pupils and make them more attractive. 5. Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis) Lily of the Valley flowers (Convallaria majalis) Lily of the valley can be found throughout Northern Europe and America where it is common in woodland. Despite its pretty appearance it is deadly poisonous containing no less than 38 different cardiac glycosides. Chief amongst these is convallatoxin which has a similar effect to digitalis in foxgloves. All parts of the plants are toxic including the orangey-red berries. The symptoms of lily of the valley poisoning include severe headache, nausea, vomiting, slow heart beat and excessive urination. 4. Hemlock Water hemlock (cicuta maculata) Hemlock is the poison of the classics.

In ancient Greece it was used as a form of execution, most notably on the philosopher Socrates in around 400 BC. There are a few highly poisonous varieties of hemlock; best known in Europe is Conium maculatum, or poison hemlock. In North America water hemlock (Cicuta maculata) is the most infamous. Both can prove deadly if eaten. Poison hemlock contains the potent toxin coniine. It is estimated that a dose of around 0.15 grams is sufficient to kill an adult. The mode of action of this poison is ‘killing from the outside in’. A numbness of the extremities slowly spreads inwards, culminating in paralysis of the lungs and death. Cases of hemlock poisoning still occur, usually with people mistaking the plant for something edible such as a salad ingredient. Hemlock is a member of the same family as the carrot and fennel so the highly toxic root may also be consumed in error. Water hemlock is related but the toxins here, cicutoxin and cicunol, have a very different effect.

These are neurotoxins and cause violent, painful convulsions, cramps and tremors very different to the calm sweeping paralysis of coniine. Even those who survive taking water hemlock may be afflicted with long-term damage such as amnesia. Water hemlock is widely regarded as the most deadly plant in North America. 3. Castor Bean (Ricinus communis) The castor bean plant is generally known for producing castor oil. This vegetable oil is widely used in food production and is also available medicinally as it is high in vitamins A & D and is an effective laxative. It comes from seeds of the plant which are around 50% oil. Bizarrely, the seeds are also a source of one of the most powerful plant toxin on Earth, ricin. It is a more potent poison than cyanide, strychnine or the strongest snake venom. Fortunately, this is only if the toxin is inhaled or injected; if eaten ricin is still very dangerous but aroun a thousand times less deadly. That said it would only take a few of the beans to kill an adult. These shrubby plants are fairly common througout the warmer parts of the world and will grow virtually anywhere.

It’s actually quite a pretty plant a blossom of large orange flowers. The symptoms of consuming the beans are not so pretty though; you can expect abdominal cramps, vomiting, internal bleeding and kidney failure. The effects are not immediate and it may take over a day for symptoms to occur. In fatal cases it may take as long as 5 days for the victim to die this unpleasant death. It is for this reason that despite being relatively common and accessible, taking Ricinus is unheard of as a form of suicide. Ricin has however been used to kill others. It was developed as a biological weapon as early as World War I and both Cold War super-powers weaponized it. In more recent times it was used by Soviet secret agents to murder Bulgarian dissident Georgi Markov using a poisoned umbrella tip. 2. Aconite (Aconitum napellus) Aconite (Aconitum napellus) AKA wolfsbane and monkshood Photo: Jean-Pol GRANDMONT / License Aconite goes by many names some which refer to the shape of the flower e.g. monkshood or devil’s helmet and others which refer to traditional uses, such as wolf’s bane.

This name comes from its use by ancient Greek shepherds who would tip there arrows in aconite to kill wolves. Any plant with so many names should set alarm bells ringing as it must be fairly notorious and this is definitely the case for aconite. Also known as “the queen of poisons” this is possibly the most poisonous plant in Europe. The pretty purple flowers are a fairly common sight on the foothills of mountains throughout northern Europe and Asia. They grow to around 6 feet (2m) tall with all parts of the plant containing deadly aconitine. Just touching the plant can cause severe symptoms whilst ingesting often proved fatal. The effects are immediate and begin with a burning in the mouth. This is followed by drooling, vomiting and diarrhea. As the poison progresses victims may experience numbness, tingling, irregular heartbeat and ultimately death from respiratory failure. Wolfsbane’s deadly history is long. It was named ‘ἀκόνιτον’ by the ancient Greeks, meaning ‘without a struggle’ hinting at the poison’s mode of action.

It features in literature both ancient and modern from Shakespeare right up to Harry Potter in which it is brewed by Professor Snape to turn Remus Lupin into a werewolf. The sap has long been used to tip spears and arrows. It was even used by some Eskimos to tip their harpoons for hunting whales. A more recent use was by the Nazis in World War II when the toxin was extracted to tip bullets. 1. Rosary Pea (Abrus precatorius) Rosary pea (Abrus precatorius) Abrus precatorius is another plant with many names; rosary pea, jequirity, paternoster pea, crab’s eye, precatory bean, Indian licorice or Jumbie bread. None of these names though hint at the fact the beans contain a poison nearly 100 times more deadly than ricin. The toxin is called abrin and there is little doubt that this is the most deadly plant poison known to man. Its effects are very similar to those of ricin. Surprisingly this is a common plant throughout the tropics and is regarded as an invasive pest species in many places, most notably Florida.

The bright red and black beans have a variety of uses including as the rattling beans inside maracas and in jewelry – this is where the name rosary pea comes from as they are commonly strung together to form rosary beads. Fortunately for the wearer the bean has a very tough protective coating, unfortunately for jewelry makers pricking a finger whilst working on one can and has caused numerous fatalities. In a recent incident a number of bracelets were recalled at one of the UK’s best known tourist attractions, the Eden Project, when it emerged they were made of Abrus precatorius seeds. Whilst the theoretical danger from a plant containing one of the most powerful toxins known to man is obvious this does not seem to have been borne out statistically. It is known that the seeds are relatively safe if swallowed whole as they will pass through the body protected by their tough coating. What is more surprising is the number of survivors who have chewed or ground up the seeds. Whilst some have died as many have survived even though suffering severe gastrointestinal upsets. It is thought the reason for this is that the toxin abrin is only slowly absorbed into the body. So, given swift medical care, or just the body’s natural purgative actions it seems many can survive.

Top 5 Poisonous Flowers & Plants | Interflora Tweet From witches’ brews to women’s ancient make-up, from curative medicine to weapons against enemies, flower and plant poisons have been frequently used by man over the centuries. Having in mind the idea of a top 5 list of poisonous flowers, we got lost in some funny and interesting stories about flowers. This is our top 5 list of flowers that kill – chosen because of their name (some of them have really cool ones!), history and poisonous effects. We never thought flowers can be so powerful and we hope you’ll enjoy the list! DATURA. Its nickname, Angel’s Trumpet, is quite interesting, but it’s the way it was used in ancient times that is even more curious… Indeed, it belongs to the so called “witches’ weeds” family because it was used as an ingredient in witches’ brews and love potions (it was mentioned for the first time in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s book The Scarlet Letter). Its poison can cause a state of delirium and death because of the toxic hallucinogens contained in parts of the plant. You can find it in the United States and Mexico. ACONITUM.

This is by far one of the most famous poisons among flowers. We were really surprised to discover how many times it has been mentioned in literature and cinema… Shakespeare mentioned it in Henry IV, John Keats in his Ode on Melancholy. In cinema it was mentioned by Stephen King and, more recently, in the Harry Potter series it was used as an ingredient in a potion werewolves use to maintain their rationality and conscience when transformed into a wolf. BELLADONNA. Do you know the meaning of this flower’s name and where it comes from? It comes from Italy and means “beautiful woman” and that’s because Roman women used to put a few drops on their eyes to dilate their pupils, which was considered quite attractive! Romans also used it as a poison to murder enemies (Emperors Augustus and Claudius used it), while in the Middle Age it was mostly used in surgery as an anesthetic. It is possible to find this flower in Europe, North Africa and Western Asia. Image source DELPHINIUM. We chose this flower because of its vibrant colour and shape. Its name comes from the Greek word “delphis” to refer to its shape which reflects an animal’s nose.

It is very poisonous if used in large quantities, but small quantities can be used for scorpions stings. It is native of the Northern hemisphere and some parts of Africa. HENBANE (Hyoscyamus niger). This is another plant which was frequently used for magical brews in years gone by. It can cause visual hallucinations and a sensation of flight. Frequently used in the Asian and Arabian world, it was imported into England during the Middle Ages. Greeks used it to yield oracles. At the beginning of the 20th century a homeopath in London used it to kill his wife! Do you know any strange poisonous flowers which we can add to the list? You can also have a look at our range of indoor and outdoor plants . Related Posts Atropa Belladonna, deadly nightshade - THE POISON GARDEN website THE POISON GARDEN website Atropa belladonna, deadly nightshade Summary For many, the star of the poison plants. Most people have heard of deadly nightshade even if they have never seen it. The combination of its ability to kill with its use to beautify by dilating the pupils gives it a romantic attraction which is hard to beat.

Add to that the hallucinations it may also cause and its fascination is complete. Its name, 'belladonna', comes from its use by Venetian women to make themselves 'beautiful ladies' by causing their pupils to dilate. Blog Entries This short video summarising the story of deadly nightshade is just one of a series. Family Meaning of the Name Atropa Named for Atropos, one of the 3 Fates, who held the shears which could cut the thread of life. Thus, a plant called ‘Atropa’ can end life. In the past, other plants have been called ‘Atropa’ such as Atropa mandragora. Pliny makes no direct reference to the plant. He talks about ‘Trychnos’, which some call ‘Strychnos’ and which has been identified as Solanum nigrum, black nightshade, and mentions another variety which is very poisonous and, hence, outside his interest. Dioscorides calls Solanum nigrum, ‘Struchnos kepaios’. Gerard calls it ‘Solanum lethale’. The name Atropa belladonna is attributed to Linneaeus.

Its similarity to other plants in the Solanum genus suggests that a systematic renaming would, probably, place this in that genus. Atropa Belladonna, deadly nightshade belladonna Literally, ‘beautiful lady’ coming from its use to promote pupilar dilation, a proven way to increase attractiveness. Gerard says the Venetians and Italians call it ‘Bella dona’ which would seem to make it a beautiful gift but someone was kind enough to point out that the Venetian dialect does not use double letters in writing so 'bella donna', 'bela dona', 'bela donna' and 'bella dona' are all ways of writing 'beautiful lady'. Mrs Grieve says that ‘the name Belladonna is said to record an old superstition that at certain times it takes the form of an enchantress of exceeding loveliness, whom it is dangerous to look upon’ but she goes on to say that the most popular derivation of the name is from Italian women. There are a number of online references to the idea of the manifesting enchantress but almost all of them quote Mrs Grieve word for word, though without acknowledging this.

Common Names and Synonyms deadly nightshade, dwale, devil's herb, love apple, sorcerer's cherry, witches berry, divale, dwayberry. This is the true 'deadly nightshade'. Some Americans insist on calling Solanum dulcamara by that name rather than woody nightshade or bittersweet. There are many images on the Internet of Solanum dulcamara flowers labelled 'deadly nightshade'. How Poisonous, How Harmful? Contains tropane alkaloids, notably hyoscine (also called scopolamine), hyoscyamine and atropine. At least five other toxic components have been isolated. The enticing berries are slightly sweet Symptoms may be slow to appear but last for several days. They include dryness in the mouth, thirst, difficulty in swallowing and speaking, blurred vision from the dilated pupils, vomiting, excessive stimulation of the heart, drowsiness, slurred speech, hallucinations, confusion, disorientation, delirium, and agitation. Coma and convulsions often precede death.

There is disagreement over what constitutes a fatal amount with cases cited of a small child eating half a berry and dying alongside a nine year old Danish boy who, in the 1990s, ate between twenty and twenty five berries and survived. A 1996 study of plant poisoning over 29 years in Switzerland found that Atropa belladonna had caused more serious incidents than any other plant (though less than 2 per year on average) and none of these resulted in death. Though the root is believed to have the highest concentration of the toxins, the berries are usually the cause of accidental poisoning because they look so nice. Watch a Video Click on the arrow to watch a short video about poisonous berries, especially the Atropa belladonna. Incident In September 2012, a German monk, on a camping trip, ate some deadly nightshade berries after mistaking them for an edible fruit. He was discovered wandering naked by a hiker and rejected all attempts at assistance. The hiker summoned the police who took the monk to a hospital where the cause of his hallucinations and manic behaviour were diagnosed and treated.

A middle-aged woman described how, when she was in her pram, her brother had given her a deadly nightshade berry to eat because he wanted to see what it did to her before trying it himself. She spat it out but, that evening, she was screaming in pain and her skin ‘was coming off’. At the hospital, they wrapped her completely in bandages so that only her eyes were visible. Atropa belladonna can cause a condition like Erysipelas which is a bacterial skin irritation similar to cellulitis. From her description, however, it sounds as though the hospital thought her skin had become photosensitive. A woman recalled, when in college at the age of 19, being given something to put into her eyes to make her look prettier. She and her friend tried it and, as young people are wont to do, decided to try a second application in case the first hadn’t worked. After the second application she could not see for some time. Could it have been atropine? This property of atropine is most useful for both eye examinations and treatment of certain conditions. A young girl with restricted vision was being treated with atropine drops. The drops had to be kept refrigerated.

Apparently, the bottle fell over and the atropine dripped onto some cooked meat below. Her mother only realised something was wrong when she began hallucinating after making herself a ham sandwich. Over time 'the Lancet' has carried a number of reports of Atropa belladonna poisoning. In 1846, two separate inquests heard of deaths arising from eating berries being sold by a man called Hillard, a known herb gatherer. Both involved the berries being used in a pie. In one, a husband and wife were taken ill after eating the pie and the husband died. In the other, a three year old boy died after eating some pie made with the berries. The inquests heard that James Hillard continued to sell the berries in the street in spite of being told that they were from a poisonous plant. In September, Hillard stood trial at the Old Bailey for the murder of Thomas Parker. Evidence was presented that he had not offered the berries to John Ayscocks, the medical botanist who usually bought all his produce, suggesting he knew what they were but, in the face of his denial, he was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to six months.

In 1948, five children were involved in a single poisoning incident. They had all picked and eaten many blackberries as well as berries of Atropa belladonna from plants entwined with the brambles. Though they reported great thirst soon after, it was some hours before serious symptoms appeared. For two of the children, admission to hospital did not occur until the following day. During treatment by means of emetics and enemas, substantial plant material was recovered from three of the children. It was estimated that one boy had eaten up to 40 berries and two girls had had 20 to 30. No material was recovered from the other two boys. All five survived suggesting that the often stated 'three berries are enough to kill a child' is an exaggeration. Folklore and Facts The plant is the property of the Devil so anyone picking the berries had better be prepared to meet the Devil face to face. It seems likely that this story was intended to keep children away from the harmful berries since, unusually, they are not unpleasant to eat.

They have been described, by those who have never tasted them, as 'intensely sweet' but, in fact, the taste is of an insipid sweetness; not in the least offensive but not so good that one would be tempted to scoff them down. Interestingly, atropine itself has a well reported bitter taste and this leads some people to claim the berry itself is bitter. A claim which indicates that author has never tried tasting the berry. John Gerard , in his 1597 Grete Herball, cites the case of three boys of Wisbech who ‘did eat of the pleasant and beautiful fruit hereof, two whereof died in less than eight hours after that they had eaten of them.’ The third was saved by being given a mixture of honey and water causing him to vomit, often. He mentions its medicinal uses but, overall, believes it should be banished from the garden and all areas around the house because children, and women, can not be trusted not to be tempted by a ‘berry of a bright shining black colour and of such great beauty’.

It has been used as a murder weapon, most noticeably by Marie Jeanneret, a Swiss nurse who, in 1868, was convicted of the murder of seven patients. Jeanneret was obsessed with the effects of the belladonna and experimented on herself. When she developed such a tolerance for it that she no longer showed any symptoms, she became a nurse tending patients in their own homes in order to be able to experiment on them. It also features in the 1892 case of Dr. Robert Buchanan who murdered his wife with morphine and put atropine in her eyes to overcome the tell-tale pinpointing of the pupils which is a clear indication of morphine overdose. When Jane Toppan took to using atropine as well as morphine during the latter part of her murderous career which was brought to an end in 1901, she may have been trying to disguise the pinpointing but, it appears, she was using atropine to counteract the morphine as she experimented to see how close to death she could take someone and still restore them, albeit temporarily, to life. These cases are amongst those featured in the popular Medical Murderers talk.

In ‘The History of Scotland’, published in 1827, George Buchanan relates how Duncan I, who ruled Scotland from 1034 to 1040, poisoned a whole army of Danes with a liquor treated by an infusion of ‘sleepy nightshade’. The description of the berries ‘which are pretty large, and black when ripe, grow out from the stalk, under the root of the leaves; the taste of the juice is sweet, and almost insipid; the seed is small like the grains of a fig’ suggests it was Atropa belladonna. Site Update All the pages in the A to Z section are regularly updated.

Question: Which poisonous plant has a name meaning ‘beautiful woman’ in Italian?
Answer: Bella Donna