I've previously featured deadly nightshade in fruit, so that entry contains some background on this poisonous plant. The epithet belladonna translates to “beautiful lady”. The reason commonly cited for the name is the attractiveness caused by the pupil dilation that accompanies an application of atropine to the eye (this technique was used centuries ago as part of make-up preparations). I'm not entirely convinced, though, as I have a suspicion that the name predates that practice. Perhaps it has more to do with the legend of the plant metamorphosizing into a woman on Walpurgis Night. Or, perhaps it was the Roman equivalent of “beer goggles”, where nightshade-laced wine had the effect of reducing inhibitions and inducing hallucinations.
As Stephen Howser explains in this article on Atropa belladonna for the Southern Illinois University Herbarium, deadly nightshade has had other uses besides beauty and parties. It could be considered one of the first chemical weapons, as Romans used it to poison enemy food supplies. Contrarily, it was also developed as an antidote to a (never deployed) nerve gas in World War II. Historically, it was also blended with other plants to create a local anesthetic.
Atropa belladonna - Z7 - RHS Index of Garden Plants, Griffiths
I would say that a "beautiful lady" being highly deadly is actually a very common theme in classical mythology, and it derives from a source like that.
There's also a very attractive yellow-flowered and pale-fruited form which I grew for a few years in my English garden. It makes a very attractive plant for wilder areas and self seeds a little.
Cases of poisoning in Britain, by the way, were often the result of children picking wild blackberries thoughtlessly adding deadly nightshade berries growing amongst the blackberries to their basket.
Where can I find some Atropa Belladonna/Atropa Belladonna var. lutea?
Please tell me as I really desire to aquire some and have been searching for years.
If you can help then I thank you.
Sweet plants, yo
Where can I find some and what other plants can it be used with. Also, how does the dilation of one's pupils make them
attractive?
If you are weak in Italian I wouldnt presume to second guess bella donna which is not Icelandic or old Norse but italiano.
I also have no idea if the Italian provenance of the name and the legend is authentic or not but the name is obviously and glaringly Italian.
So what is your basis for doubting it?
Nada I surmise.
I am also thinking of Lucretia Borgia a famous poisoner and Romeo and Juliet who were given love potions or fake death potions by Friar Lawrence.
So Italian Renaissance is teeming with use and abuse of herbal remedies and poisons therefore belladonna hits the mark and your comment misses it by a country mile.
I'm not disputing the origin of the name as being Italian.
I am, though, wondering if the “beautiful woman” aspect of the name is indeed directly attributable to its use in pupil dilation in Medieval times or whether it was called "bella donna" long before that use (and why). Other references I've read suggest it was used for reddening one's skin (cheeks) in Roman times.