Hyoscyamus niger - Henbane - (Solanaceae)

Henbane is one of our most deadly wildflowers with all parts of the plant being poisonous. For that reason, if no other, it has an interesting history. Other common names are 'Devil's Eye' and 'Stinking Roger', the latter referring to its strong, unpleasant smell.

Henbane plant

Pictures by kind permission of Anne Horsfall

Henbane is a member of the family Solanaceae. It is a very hairy, sticky plant that grows up to 75cm in height and can be found on disturbed ground, particularly if the soil is sandy. The flowers are 2 to 3cm across and are creamy-yellow and funnel-shaped with a dark purplish centres. The leaves are pointed and the lower ones are toothed.

Close-up picture of Henbane flowers

In 1910 Henbane became famous as a result of the criminal case of Dr Crippen, who used the plant to source the chemical hyoscine with which he murdered his wife. Other deadly chemicals contained in Henbane are the alkaloids hyoscyamine, scopolomaine and atrophine. The symptoms of poisoning include delerium, and convulsions that lead to coma and death. Henbane does, however, have some medicinal benefits and has been used throughout history to treat various ailments from travel-sickness to toothache and even mental illness.

In the UK, Henbane is localised but sometimes common in the south and east of England although rare elsewhere. It flowers from June until August.

Henbane is also found throughout the Mediterranean region where it grows in similar places to those in the UK, but particularly near the sea. In warmer climates its flowers can be seen from April onwards.