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BELLADONNA
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Belladonna, or deadly nightshade, Atropa belladonna, is a poisonous plant of the potato family, Solanaceae. Native to Europe and Anatolia, it is a herbaceous perennial that grows from a creeping rootstock to a height of 1.5 m (5 ft). The leaves are oval in outline, have smooth edges, and are positioned singly along the stem; the solitary, purplish flowers are bell-shaped and nodding, about 2.5 cm (1 in) long, and upon maturity produce a brownish or blackish berry about the size of a cherry. All parts of the plant contain poisonous chemicals, called ALKALOIDS, but the berries are most often responsible for poisoning in humans, especially children. The leaves and roots contain ATROPINE, which is used as an antispasmodic in treating asthma and hyperacidity.
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