alwaysfallingleaves:

nikkilanecreates:

Inktober day 20: deadly plants

Deadly nightshade also known as belladonna was once used in beauty regimes to dilate the pupils for an amorous appearance. However the toxicity in the plant is very high and if ingested it and can be fatal.

The berries and the roots are the most toxic part of the plant. If ingested the symptoms include: dry mouth, difficulty in swallowing and speaking, blurred vision from dilated pupils, vomiting, drowsiness, slurred speech, hallucinations, confusion, disorientation, coma, convulsions, and death.

Ok so this is a bit of a pet peeve of mine, it’s an often misidentified plant.  The illustrated plant here is actually bittersweet nightshade, or some other nightshade, but not belladonna.  Belladonna has bell-shaped flowers that don’t open up like this.  That being said, gorgeous illustration! (Source for pictures of belladonna: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atropa_belladonna)