Weed of the Week

12-17-07

Black henbane, Hyoscyamus niger

 

Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org

 Characteristics:

Family: Solanaceae (Nightshade family) 

Origin: Native to Europe 

Description:

• Annual or Biennial, 1-3 Feet in height

Stems:

• Upright, tough and very thick

Flowers:

• Long racemes in axils at the end of the upper leaves
• Brownish yellow with purple center and veins

Leaves:

• Coarsely toothed, pubescent and shallowly lobed

Fruit:

• Two rows of pineapple shaped fruit, 1 inch long and filled with many round black seeds

Additional Information:

            Black henbane was brought to the U.S. as an ornamental and for medicinal purposes. It is a Class B noxious weed in Colorado. It is poisonous to livestock and humans but rarely affects livestock, as it is only eaten as a last resort. All portions of the plant are poisonous to some extent. The Alkaloids present in the plant are and were used in controlled dosages as medicines.

  

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