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Black Henbane
Hyoscyamus niger L.
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Family: Solanaceae,
Nightshade
Genus: Hyoscyamus
Description
General: coarse, leafy, branched, strong-scented biennial or
annual up to 100 cm tall, conspicuously sticky-long-hairy,
especially the stem.
 Leaves: alternate, numerous, often on 1 side of the
branches, ovate to broadly lanceolate, stalkless, 5-20 cm
long, 2-14 cm wide, rather shallowly pinnately lobed, with
up to about 10 unequal, triangular, pointed segments.
 Flowers: numerous in 1-sided rows on long, downward-
curved branches. Mature calyx about 2.5 cm long, urn-
shaped, dry, net-veined, with 5 short, triangular lobes.
Corolla funnel-shaped, 2.5-4.5 cm long and nearly or quite
as wide at the top, prominently purple-veined on a pale,
often greenish-yellow background, more distinctly purple in
the throat, the 5 rounded lobes slightly unequal.
Flowering time: May-August.
 Fruits: capsules, more or less 2-celled, 1-1.5 cm long,
with strongly thickened lid, opening well above the middle,
completely enclosed by the calyx. Seeds numerous,
flattened, roughened.
Distribution
A weed along roadsides and in disturbed areas, in many
parts of MT except some in the North. Native of Europe,
now casually established over much of the U.S.
  Medicinal and Poisonous plant. |
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(click on image for full size)
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(click on images for full size)
Poisonous Properties:
All parts of henbane are very toxic. Symptoms of poisoning include impaired vision, convulsions, coma
and death from heart or respiratory failure.This species is one of the sources of the hypnotic and sedative
drugs hyoscyamine and scopolamine. This plant contains several alkaloids, and it has caused rare poisoning
in humans, cattle, poultry, and swine. Human poisoning has been accidental or purposeful because of its
reported medicinal or hallucinogenic properties. Black henbane has been used medicinally since ancient
times to help with a variety of health problems and as a preventative. Its hallucinogenic effects have
led people to eat the seed or chew the flowers, often with detrimental results. Ingestion causes anticholinergic
syndrome with stimulatory and hallucinatory effects. Cattle have been poisoned in Europe after ingesting
black henbane that was included in forage. The alkaloid content is retained upon drying, and ingestion
is said to taint the milk of cows. Poultry have died after ingesting the seeds, and pigs have died after
eating the roots.
Medicinal Uses:
Henbane has a very long history of use as a medicinal herb, and has been widely cultivated to meet the
demand for its use. All parts of the plant, but especially the leaves and the seeds, can be used - they
are mildly pain-relieving, antispasmodic, mildly diuretic, hallucinogenic, hypnotic, pupil-dilating, narcotic
and sedative. The leaves and seeds are the
parts medicinally used. The leaves are collected in the second year, when the plant is in flower; the
seeds are gathered when perfectly ripe. If the leaves are bruised, they emit a strong narcotic odor, like
tobacco. The active principle of henbane is called Hyosciamia, but all the recognized preparations are
now known by the general name of Hyoscyamus.
Henbane is a powerful narcotic, but, unless improperly and injudiciously used, it is only considered moderately
poisonous. For sedative uses it is considered better than opium, as it does not produce constipation.
It is used principally to cause sleep, and remove irregular nervous action. Combined with other preparations
mentioned in many parts of this volume, it is most excellent for gout, rheumatism, asthma, chronic cough,
neuralgia, irritations of the urinary organs, etc. The leaves make fine external preparations for glandular
swelling or ulcers, etc. This plant should never be used, under any circumstances, without the advice
of a good herbal physician.
Other Uses:
The leaves scattered around inside a house will drive away mice.
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