Atropa belladonna (Deadly nightshade)

Atropa belladonna (Deadly Nightshade) Tall, branched stem with ovate green leaves and purple-brown bell shaped flowers. Close up view. Contains alkaloids including atropine, hyoscyamine and scopolamine, once used as antispasmodics and narcotics. Atropine is a cycloplegic used to dilate the pupils. It is grown commercially for this purpose. The word Belladonna (beautiful woman) derives from its historical use for this purpose. The berries are deadly poisonous.