The Cultivation of Belladonna in California

Including color illustrations, this volume discusses the advantages of cultivating the poisonous belladonna in states like California. Commonly known as deadly nightshade, belladonna is an extremely toxic plant native to Europe, North Africa and Western Asia. The toxins in the plant's foliage and berries produce hallucinations and delirium to those who come into contact with them. The plant has a long history in medicine, cosmetics and poisons. Before the Middle Ages, belladonna was used as an anesthetic, and the ancient Romans used it as a poison. Before this, belladonna was used to make poison-tipped arrows. Belladonna was also used in eye drops for women to dilate their pupils and appear more seductive. This tradition is perhaps why the plant became known as belladonna, Italian for "beautiful woman."