Belladonna,Hemlock&Mandrake,The Bad Boys of the Botanical World

October 19, 2005

Belladonna, Hemlock & Mandrake, The Bad Boys of The Botanical World By Elizabeth Harwick

Even in these more "enlightened times" the names of Belladonna, Poison Hemlock or Mandrake, still bring to mind the image of witches standing hunched over a bubbling cauldron, stirring their concoctions and tossing their heads back in maniacal laughter. What better time of year to explore the lore behind and the historical uses of these "bad boys" of the botanical worldâ€¦

Belladonna (Atrope belladonna)

Belladonna, also known as witches berry, murderer's berry or deadly nightshade, is a herbaceous perennial that stands approximately 3 feet tall, has light green leaves and purplish flowers, that give way to black berries that contain a sweet, deep purple juice. It is native to central and southern Europe but can now be found in sparse areas of North America, India, and Australia.

It is said that women of the 18th and 19th centuries would rub the leaves of the plant onto their eyes causing their pupils to dilate. The thought being that the plant would give their eyes a dreamy quality and be more attractive. The juice from the berries also had a place on the nightstands of these women as a type of blush that would be used to give their cheeks a slightly reddish purple color.

One of my favorite tales of the uses of belladonna involves the witches of the middle ages. Belladonna has been known throughout history as a hallucinogenic. The drug has also been known to give a feeling of weightlessness. These two properties combined may explain the tales of the women known as witches claiming to be able to mount a broom and fly across the night sky.

Belladonna today is the source for the drug atropine, which is used to treat asthma, to dilate pupils, and even by the United States government as an antidote for poisonous gas.

Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum)

Poison hemlock is a poisonous herb that belongs to the parsley family. The plant itself can reach to approximately 3 feet tall, has dark green leaves, blooms small white clusters of flowers and offers a pungent odor. It is common throughout Europe and in the uncultivated areas of North America.

Socrates in 399 BC helped Hemlock obtain its permanent place in history. Socrates, who had been charged with a number of offenses by the Athenian government including impiety, introducing new ideas regarding divinity, and corrupting the morals of the youth of the city, was condemned to death. As stated in Microsoft Encarta '98 Encyclopedia: "Socrates' friends planned his escape from prison, but he preferred to comply with the law and to die for his cause. His last day was spent with his friends and admirers, and in the evening he fulfilled his sentence by calmly drinking a cup of hemlock according to a customary procedure of execution." Mandrake (Mandragora officinalis)

Mandrake, once known as the most evil plant in the world, has been linked closely to the supernatural realm throughout the centuries. In olden times it was thought that because the plants root structure resembles the form of man, that it was part demon. Today it is a rare plant found mainly in the Mediterranean and Himalayan regions.

One of the most fascinating tales of this plant involves the harvesting of it. It was thought that the plant once released from the ground would rise up and kill whoever had taken it from it's resting spot. Thus began a much-involved process of harvesting.

The harvest must take place during a new moon so that the plant would not be able to see the harvester. The harvester must then circle the plant several times digging into the ground with an iron sword. He would then tie one end of a rope around the plant and the other end around whatever animal had befallen the unlucky job of "harvester." He would then slap the animal on the rear to cause it to gallop away, thus pulling the mandrake out of the soil. The plant, of course would then rise up, attack and kill the unfortunate animal (it's harvester) leaving the real harvester to simply walk up and take the plant.

While the plants mentioned above do add a touch of colorful rich history, it is wise to remember that all parts of Belladonna, Hemlock, and Mandrake are toxic and should be treated with great care and respect.

About the Author: My name is Elizabeth Harwick and I have lived in a small sailing community in North Carolina for the majority of my life. My love for herbs and all things gardening began when I was about 3 years old, helping my father plant watermelon seeds. Ours was a very small, family farm and we did not have complex farming equipment. I was the seed-sower. One day when I finally got up the courage to ask why exactly it had to be ME that planted an acre of watermelon seeds (1 3/4" apart) my father looked at me calmly and said "Well, you're closer to the row." Thus, began my garden journey and my lesson that to maintain a garden you must also maintain a sense of humor. Thank you for joining me in my journey.