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Black Henbane
(Hyoscyamus niger) |
Background
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 Black henbane (Hyoscyamus niger) is a
Mediterranean native that was introduced as an ornamental and medicinal
plant in the 17th century. It spreads by seeds and is found in a variety or
environmental conditions. Black henbane is narcotic and poisonous
to humans.
Livestock avoid it unless other forage is not available. Two alkaloids in
black henbane tissues (hyoscyamine and scopolamine) are useful sedative/
anti-spasmodic drugs when used under controlled conditions.
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Description
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 Black henbane is an
annual or
biennial plant that grows up to 3 feet tall. The entire plant is covered
with greasy hairs. Leaves are up to 8 inches long and 6 inches wide,
shallowly lobed, and heavy scented. Flowers
are borne on spikes form the leaf axils from
May until September. They are showy, 5 lobed,
up to 2 inches across, and greenish-yellow in color with deep purple veins
and throats. The calyx forms a 1-inch,
urn-shaped "fruit" that has a thickened lid that pops off at maturity and
spills the black seeds. |
Distribution
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 Black henbane is found
in the northern U. S. and southern Canada.
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Control
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No biological control agents
are available for control of black henbane, but herbicides can provide
excellent control |
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© 1999 University of Idaho:
Text and photographs for these pages from Idaho's Noxious Weeds, by
Robert H. Callihan and Timothy W. Miller (revised by Don W. Morishita
and Larry W. Lass).
Please contact: Ag Publishing, University of Idaho, Moscow,
Idaho 83844-2240; 208 882-7982 visit the Resources for Idaho website at
http://info.ag.uidaho.edu, for more information about this or other
publications.
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