Black Henbane

Hyoscyamus niger L.

Solanaceae (Nightshade Family)

▲ young plant rosettes

▲ flowering, fruiting, upright stem

▲ ▼ flower and fruit close-up

▲ stem leaf

▲▼ mature plants

 

▲ ▼ dried plants with "backbone"  or vertebrae appearance

Black Henbane: 

·       annual plant with lanceolate, toothed margined, hairy, strong-odored (bad odor?) leaves directly attached to the stem

·       grows 2-5’ tall in moist to dry soils, full sun

·       flowers are small (1/2” diameter) at tips of mature stems, followed by urn-like structures held on top side of a curved stem; fruit structures contain many seeds

·       plant has a ghostly “backbone” look when dried, dead after season’s growth

·       plant is toxic to people and for livestock grazing