DEADLY NIGHTSHADE

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

• Purple, bell shaped flowers
• Light yellow/green berries that ripen into black colored berries
• Tastes sweet
• Dull/darkish colored leaves
• Floral smell
• Soft, fiber like leaves
• Waxy, soft berries

HOW IT CAUSES DEATH

• Information not available.
• However if an adult consumes 1 leaf from the plant it could be lethal and if they eat up to 6 berries from the plant they could die.
• If a child consumes only 1-2 berries from the plant they will die, and if they eat a leaf from it they will also die.

SYMPTOMS

• Dilated Pupils
• Sensitivity to Light
• Blurred Vision
• Loss of Balance
• Headache
• Rash and Flushing
• Severely Dry Mouth and Throat
• Slurred Speech
• Hallucinations/Delirium
• Convulsions

CURE

• The only cure is physostigmine or pilocarpine, which is the same as for atropine.

HOW IT'S DETECTED

• Look for the earlier mentioned symptoms
• Look for the specific bell shaped flowers
• Make sure you know the difference between Nightshade and blueberries

CITATIONS

• http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atropa_belladonna
• http://www.first-nature.com/flowers/atropa-belladonna.php
• http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002887.htm