What Are Nightshade Plants?
- Nightshade plants typically produce simple, alternate egg-shaped leaves and bear flowers in clusters. Flower color can range from white to pink and orange and blue. The flowers usually contain five petals. The nightshade fruit is a smooth berry which varies in color from red to green to black. Some species, such as the bittersweet nightshade, are climbing plants, while others, such as the blue witch, have a more shrublike growth habit.
- Certain nightshade plants contain extremely strong chemicals that can be toxic to humans and animals if ingested. The compound responsible for the toxicity of most species is called solanine. Solanine can cause fatalities if taken in significant amounts, advises the Encyclopedia Britannica. Another compound called atropine, found in the deadly nightshade, or belladonna, may also cause severe poisoning in humans. Even a single belladonna berry might cause a fatality, according to the Encyclopedia of Poisons and Antidotes.
- Although the powerful chemical compounds in many nightshade plants can cause severe harm if taken in sufficient quantities, nightshade also has a long history of use as a medicinal herb. By carefully monitoring the dosage, herbalists believe they can alleviate certain ailments and conditions. For example, atropine can reduce pain and also help control spasms. In some cases atropine is used as an antidote for toxins such as opium.
- Some plants in the Solanum genus or the Solanacea family do not fit into the common understanding of the word nightshade. Although plants such as the potato and the eggplant officially belong to the Solanum family, most people do not refer to them with the term "nightshade." Another example is tobacco, which contains the powerful chemical nicotine and belongs to the Solanum genus, but does not fit the common conception of a nightshade plant. Other types of plants that belong to the nightshade family include certain ornamentals, such as the petunia.