Henbane

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Helen (lat. Hyoscyamus) - a genus of herbaceous poisonous plants belonging to the Solanaceae family (Latin Solanaceae). All parts of plants of the genus contain toxic alkaloids, which in certain quantities pose a threat to human life. With the correct dosage, the plant turns into a medicinal one, which is actively used by traditional healers and official pharmacology. If a plant is found in your area, it is imperative to introduce children to it, explaining that seeds similar to poppies should not be eaten, since the plant has concentrated the highest content of poison in them.

What's in your name

Although the Latin name of the genus "Hyoscyamus", based on the Greek language, has a quite definite translation - "pork beans", there are several options for the interpretation of this name, since this plant has nothing to do with beans.

As for pigs, some argue that henbane, toxic to the human body, is absolutely safe for consumption by pigs, which is what the name gave rise to. But others claim that henbane, eaten by pigs, weakens the animal, causing convulsions in its body. To check which of them is closer to the truth is unlikely to occur to people raising pigs.

Popular names of plants of the genus, as a rule, are associated with the ability to influence the chemical composition of herbs on the human body. Among them are such as: Zubnik, Rabid, Mad Grass, Blekota.

Description

A thick, high (up to one and a half meters) stem is born from the tap root to the surface of the earth, the surface of which is covered with numerous hairs.

In the first year, a rosette of long-stalked leaves is born, and in the second year, a leafy stem with leaves appears, the shape of which can be very different: more often these are separate or pinnately-lobed leaves of an elongated shape, but there are also whole ones. The color of the surface of the leaf plate, as a rule, is dark green, pubescent.

Large flowers exude an unpleasant odor that even animals bypass. The funnel-shaped floral corolla is composed of five dirty yellow lobes, the surface of which is pierced with purple veins. The corolla is protected by a bell-shaped cup that grows in size and hardens with fruit.

Dark brown small seeds, outwardly resembling Poppy seeds, are collected in a fruit box or jug, covered with a spherical opening lid. This cute creature concentrates the largest amount of toxic substances in the seeds, posing a threat to human health and life. The plant is especially easy to mislead children who do not know about its toxic qualities and are trying to feast on the "poppy" seeds.

The Almighty settled Belena closer to the place of residence of a person, as if tempting him with grass that could stupefy his head. Belena makes his way to vegetable gardens, to front gardens, scatters its large bushes on wastelands or roadsides.

Varieties

Today in the genus there are twenty plant species that are found throughout the territory of the twin continent - Eurasia. Among them are the following:

* Black henbane (Latin Hyoscyamus niger)

* White henbane (Latin Hyoscyamus albus)

* Czech henbane (lat. Hyoscyamus bohemicus)

* Tiny henbane (Latin Hyoscyamus pusillus)

* Mesh henbane (Latin Hyoscyamus reticulatus)

* Turkmen belena (Latin Hyoscyamus turcomanicus)

* Egyptian henbane (Latin Hyoscyamus muticus)

* Golden henbane (Latin Hyoscyamus aureus)

* Kopetdag henbane (Latin Hyoscyamus kopetdaghi).

Usage

The toxic alkaloids contained in the plant in reasonable doses are used to eliminate toothache, as antispasmodic drugs for problems with the respiratory system (asthma) and the work of the human cardiovascular system.