Black Nightshade
By: Jeff
Fisher J.H. School
Description
Black Nightshade rarely grows more than a foot high and is very bushy. The leaves are mainly dull green and are egg shaped.
Medicinal Uses Today
This plant has been known as very poisonous. Solanine, the active principle, the poisonous properties and which depends on the proceeding species. The Proceeding species exists in large quantities in fresh herbs, which varies at different seasons. These berries are harmful to children, but are often eaten by adults with out any harm. Cattle never eat this plant and sheep hardly ever eat it.
Black Nightshade is often applied in a medicine similarly to buttersweet, but it is more powerful than greater narcotic properties. Withering and other authorities, one or two grains of leaves dry, and are infused by boiling water.
Places Used in the World
In Bohemia, they place the leaves in the bed of infants to help them sleep. On the island of Bourbon and Mauritius, the leaves are eaten in place of spinach. Soldiers stationed in British Kaffraria eat the fruit. The Arabs put the leaves on burns. Natives in Cayenne use the poison. In addition, Brazil uses the poison too. Other place that use it in food are China, Japan, Madagascar, France, England, Peru, West Indies, Australia, Fiji Island, Brazil, Canary Isles, and Abyssinia.
Civil War Uses
Black Nightshade was mainly used in the Civil War for burns, sleep, and food. The soldiers ate the fruit that was on Black Nightshade. They also slept close to the leaves to help put to sleep. They also applied the leaves to burns.
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