Eating belladonna can be fatal even in small quantities, so it is important to avoid confusing it with berries that are safe to eat.
The black nightshade, also called Atropa belladonna, belongs to the nightshade family. The deadly nightshade is a native wild perennial with small black fruits that resemble cherries. It is better known under the name Belladonna and is also called the sleeping berry or devil’s cherry.
Already in the Middle Ages, the fruits of the belladonna became known for their hallucinogenic effects. The plant was considered a magical plant and was used to induce states of excitement.
Due to its pupil-enlarging effect, women often dripped the juice of the belladonna into their eyes, as large pupils were considered a sign of beauty.
The active compounds in belladonna are the tropane alkaloids hyoscyamine, atropine and scopalamine. Atropine is used in medicine today primarily for colic-like pain in the gastrointestinal tract.
There is nothing to fear from eating wild blueberries, but deadly nightshade is dangerous.
While the fruits of the belladonna are very similar to other berries, the appearance of the leaves and the height of the plant make it easier to distinguish them.
