Belladonna (Atropa belladonna): This lethal plant takes its name from Atropos, the Moira who in Greek mythology cut the thread of life, "she who cannot be dissuaded," a reminder of the certain death that ingesting the black berries causes. Death is caused by the alkaloid it contains, atropine. During the Renaissance, it was used to increase mydriasis (pupil dilation), making the eyes more beautiful and bright, hence the name belladonna. Widely used in European ethnobotany, it is one of the ingredients in "flying ointment."
Easy to grow and native to Italy, it has a vaguely decorative appearance. It should be grown by experts, preferably out of reach of the curious: ingesting the berries, which can be confused with blueberries, is lethal.
