Hyoscyamus-niger_3

Hyoscyamus niger L., syn.: Hyoscyamus auriculatus Ten., Hyoscyamus bohemicus F. W. Schmidt, Hyoscyamus pallidus Willd., Hyoscyamus pictus Roth, Hyoscyamus syspirensis C. Koch, Hyoscyamus verviensis Leg.

Hyoscyamus vulgaris Neck.

Family: Solanaceae

EN: Black Henbane; DE: Schwarze Bilsenkraut

Slo.: črni zobnik

 

Dat.: May 20. 2024 and May 23. 2024

Lat.: 44.75230 Long.: 14.42711

Code: Bot_1579/2024 _DSC5762 and Bot_1582/2024 _DSC5762

 

Habitat: ruderal, open, calcareous, stony place; flat terrain, open, full sun, dry place; average precipitations 900 - 1.000 mm/year, average temperature 7 - 9 deg C, elevations 120 m (390 feet), Sub-Mediterranean phytogeographical region.

 

Substratum: stony soil

 

Place: Adriatic Sea, island Cres, east of the main road Cres – Osor, next to the dirt road toward the settlement Srem, Kvarner Bay, Rijeka region, Croatia.

 

Comments (pertain to pictures in Flicker album Hyoscyamus niger): Hyoscyamus niger is a rare plant on the island of Cres. There are only two references in the FCD database (Ref.: 5), one from an indirect literature source and another observation from 2008. Otherwise, it spreads almost throughout Europe, parts of Western Asia, Africa, Morocco, and Algeria (Ref.: 1).

 

The plant is medicinal, dangerously poisonous, and has been associated with magic and sorcery for centuries. Its vernacular English name 'nightshade' perfectly reflects its mystery. In medieval texts, magical or ritual properties are ascribed to it. In the compendium of ritual plants in Europe, De Cleene and Lejeune describe medieval sources in which the plant is used to evoke rain, summon demons, and attract game. It is also noted as an ingredient in witches’ tonics due to its psychoactive and hallucinogenic properties. Archaeological excavations dated to AD 70–100 prove its intentional use by humans (Ref. 2) for medical purposes. It was used to relieve chest complaints, all kinds of pain, mucus, and disorders of the womb, and as a remedy for toothache, flatulence, and shortness of breath. However, it has serious side effects too. It causes heavy disturbance of the senses, such as alienation of the mind or madness. Pliny already warned that the drug is dangerous in any form.

 

References:

(1) Euro+Med 2006+ [continuously updated]: Euro+Med PlantBase - the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity. – www.europlusmed.org [accessed Sept. 12. 2024]

(2) Groot M, van Haasteren M, Kooistra LI. Evidence of the intentional use of black henbane (Hyoscyamus niger) in the Roman Netherlands. Antiquity. 2024; 98(398):470-485; doi:10.15184/aqy.2024.5

(3) T. Nikolić, Flora Croatica, Vaskularna flora Republike Hrvatske, Vol. 3. Alfa d.d.. Zagreb (2020) p 640.

(4) W.K. Rottensteiner, Exkursionsflora für Istrien, Verlag des Naturwissenschaftlichen Vereins Kärten (2014), p 878.

(5) T. Nikolić ed. (2015 + [continuously updated]): Flora Croatica Database (FCD) (hirc.botanic.hr/fcd), Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb (accessed date: 2024/09/04).

(6) C. Zerling, Lexikon der Pflanzensymbolik, (2007), AT Verlag, Baden und München

 

Done