Description
Stout, tall, hairless perennial, much branched, sometimes reaching 1,5m tall. Leaves alternate or opposite, oval, pointed, short-stalked, untoothed. Flowers brownish-violet or greenish, nodding bells, 25-30mm long, solitary at the axils of the upper leaves. Fruit a succulent globose berry, shiny and black when ripe, surrounded by the starry persistent calyx. Habitat: Damp or shaded places, woodland clearings, pathways, scrub and rocky places, often on calcareous soils and in mountain regions, to 1700m. Flowering Season: June-August. Distribution: Britain, Belgium, Holland, France and Germany. A very poisonous plant, all the parts of the plant are poisonous, especially the seeds and roots. The poisons are various alkaloids, such as Hyocyamine and Atropine. The species is long cultivated for its medical properties. This Picture is made during a short Trip in the Eifel in June 2022.
