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Hyoscyamus niger, black henbane
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Hyoscyamus niger, black henbane
Watercolour by Arthur Harry Church, 1903. Held in the Botany Library at the Natural History Museum, London
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Media ID 8605749
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10710899
Arthur Harry Church Asterid Eudicot Henbane Hyoscyamus Petal Poisonous Solanaceae Solanales Angiospermae Black Henbane Dicot Dicotyledon Hyoscyamus Niger Magnoliophyta
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This exquisite watercolour painting depicts the enchanting and intriguing Hyoscyamus niger, commonly known as black henbane. Created in 1903 by the skilled hand of British artist Arthur Harry Church, this illustration is now held in the esteemed Botany Library at the Natural History Museum in London. The Hyoscyamus niger is a member of the Solanaceae family, also known as the nightshade family, and is an angiosperm, a type of flowering plant that produces enclosed seeds. As a dicot, it is characterized by having two seed leaves (cotyledons) and belongs to the order Solanales. This eudicot, or advanced dicot, is further classified as an asterid, a large clade of flowering plants. Black henbane is a striking plant, with its large, bell-shaped flowers boasting five petals that range in colour from pale lavender to deep purple. The plant's leaves are velvety and glossy, and the plant can grow up to 1.5 meters tall. However, despite its beauty, black henbane holds a darker side. All parts of the plant are poisonous, containing powerful alkaloids such as hyoscyamine and scopolamine. These compounds have been used for medicinal purposes throughout history, including as an anesthetic, antispasmodic, and anticholinergic. This Victorian-era illustration captures the essence of the black henbane, showcasing its allure and intrigue, while also serving as a reminder of the plant's potent and complex nature. The delicate brushstrokes and vibrant colours bring the flower to life, transporting us back in time to the 19th century and the world of botanical art.
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