Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: Hyoscyamus niger

The seedpods of Black Henbane are some of my favourite seedpods. I noticed these growing near the edge of the Bow River on the east side at Mallard Point, Fish Creek Park, on 22 September 2015. The water gave me a nice, clear background. "An annual or biennial (forming a rosette the first year) plant that reproduces by seed only. Black Henbane was introduced from the Mediterranean and has been used as a medicinal plant since the Middle Ages, and was also used in ancient religious rites because of its hallucinogenic properties. It was even used as a flavoring in beer until the Bavarian Purity Law of 1516. All parts of the plant are poisonous to humans and animals when ingested – tissues contain several toxic alkaloids. Symptoms of poisoning include impaired vision, convulsions, coma, and death from heart or respiratory failure. It is a member of the nightshade family and also called ‘stinking nightshade’. A single plant can produce as much as half a million seeds in one season, which are viable for about 4 years." www.invasiveplants.ab.ca/Downloads/FS-BlackHenbane.pdf - On that morning, I was out with friends on a three hour birding walk. A beautiful sunny day, with the temperature between 8C and 13C, and 44 bird species were seen (not all by me, as usual). The American White Pelicans and the Cormorants are always favourites of mine. After the walk, friend Sandy asked if I wanted to go back to the place SW of the city and SW of Millarville, where I had managed to spot (on 17 September) a group of three mature Amanita muscaria (Fly Agaric) mushrooms. We don't get the bright red ones with white dots here (the kind that you see in children's fairytale books), but we very occasionally come across a yellow or orange one if we are very lucky. I think I have only ever seen these three times - at West Bragg Creek, Rod Handfield's land at this very location, and I think Marsden Creek in Kananaskis. I was so longing to see one again and thought it was worth the drive just to check. Well, I found the field easily on 17 September, but had forgotten about the sign there that said No Trespassing, No shooting, Patrol Area. I wasn't sure what Patrol Area meant, but I could almost imagine several Dobermans being released to attack me! I never go anywhere that has a No Trespassing sign, anyway. So, I walked through the trees along the edge of the field and tried to peer into the field, being careful not to catch the barbed-wire fence. I caught sight of a cluster of three fungi that looked like they were Amanitas, though they were fully "opened" and I couldn't see any spots. Only managed to get one really poor photo. Since then, I learned that this location is actually part of Rod Handfield's land - I thought it belonged to someone else. Rod had always told our botany group that we were welcome to explore his land at any time. When Sandy and I called in on 22 September, we were able to check for any Fly Agarics - not a single one to be found this time, not even the three I had found a few days earlier. Several years ago, there was quite a large patch of them right there. It's a bit late in the fungi season, unfortunately. We wandered through the forest just a little way - such a beautiful, rich forest floor. We have all reckoned that this forest is one of our favourites, with so many things to be found. However, for some reason, we haven't had any trips out there the last three or so years. Many thanks for driving out there yesterday, Sandy - much appreciated!

I always think this is rather a strange flower, but with such a beautiful pattern on the petals. Photographed this noxious weed on 23 June 2015, when I was on a botany walk at Griffith Woods. "An annual or biennial (forming a rosette the first year) plant that reproduces by seed only. Black Henbane was introduced from the Mediterranean and has been used as a medicinal plant since the Middle Ages, and was also used in ancient religious rites because of its hallucinogenic properties. It was even used as a flavoring in beer until the Bavarian Purity Law of 1516. All parts of the plant are poisonous to humans and animals when ingested – tissues contain several toxic alkaloids. Symptoms of poisoning include impaired vision, convulsions, coma, and death from heart or respiratory failure. It is a member of the nightshade family and also called ‘stinking nightshade’. A single plant can produce as much as half a million seeds in one season, which are viable for about 4 years." www.invasiveplants.ab.ca/Downloads/FS-BlackHenbane.pdf -

I always think that Black Henbane is a strange flower, but with such a beautiful pattern on the petals. Photographed the seedpods of this noxious weed in Carburn Park yesterday, 17 August 2014. I love the seedpods this plant produces! "An annual or biennial (forming a rosette the first year) plant that reproduces by seed only. Black Henbane was introduced from the Mediterranean and has been used as a medicinal plant since the Middle Ages, and was also used in ancient religious rites because of its hallucinogenic properties. It was even used as a flavoring in beer until the Bavarian Purity Law of 1516. All parts of the plant are poisonous to humans and animals when ingested – tissues contain several toxic alkaloids. Symptoms of poisoning include impaired vision, convulsions, coma, and death from heart or respiratory failure. It is a member of the nightshade family and also called ‘stinking nightshade’. A single plant can produce as much as half a million seeds in one season, which are viable for about 4 years." www.invasiveplants.ab.ca/Downloads/FS-BlackHenbane.pdf -

Possibly my favourite seedpods! These are from the Black Henbane plant and remind one of peanut shells : ) I love the spiky points and the intricate vein pattern. This plant was introduced from Eurasia and has become a problem. All parts of the plant are poisonous, too.

Is anyone else finding that Flickr has been incredibly slow the last few days? I can click on something and five minutes later, something finally happens. I have Light Speed, not High Speed, but this is slower than it usually is. I've been on the verge of giving up many times! Anyway, these are some of my favourite seedpods, those of Black Henbane. Like little, veined urns. Had never photographed them in winter, against the snow, before. An introduced, invasive plant.

These are some of my favourite seedpods, all dried out yesterday when I saw them in Fish Creek Park in the Sikome area. As you can see by the sky, we had an absolutely gorgeous winter's day yesterday. This plant species was introduced from Eurasia and it has become a very unwelcome plant, spreading by means of the many, many tiny seeds it produces. The round seed capsule is surrounded by the "enlarged, bristle-topped sepals", forming the tiny, veined "urns" seen in my photo.

These are some of my favourite seedpods, belonging to the Black Henbane plant. This member of the Nightshade family (also called the Potato family) is an introduced species from Eurasia. All parts of Black Henbane are POISONOUS! Unfortunately, this plant has become an invasive species.

I find this an attractive flower, but also a rather strange one. The purple veining is quite striking. The next photo in my photostream shows the seedpods of this plant - like a row of tiny urns. This particular plant was growing at Strathcona Park Ravine when we were there for a walk yesterday morning.

Black Henbane is one of my favourite wildflowers, though all parts of this plant are poisonous and it is a weed : ). The flowers are a little creepy, but quite spectacular. Love the seedpods of this plant! It was introduced from Eurasia.

I find these stems of dried Black Henbane seedpods absolutely fascinating! Love the spike-tipped sepals that surrounded the fruit. This plant is pulled here, as it is an unwanted plant, spreading a huge number of seeds.

This is one of my favourite wildflowers, though all parts of the plant are poisonous. It contains toxic alkaloids and narcotics. I love the seedpods of this wildflower. An introduced plant from Eurasia.

All parts of this wild plant, which belongs to the Nightshade family, are poisonous. It contains toxic alkaloids and narcotics. I think the flower itself is quite impressive and I find the seedpods fascinating.

Though Black Henbane is a noxious weed, the urn-shaped seedpods fascinate me. This plant only reproduces by seed and one plant can produce 10,000 to 500,000 black seeds that are scattered when the thickened lid of the seedpod pops off!