Hyoscyamus niger, commonly known as henbane, black henbane or stinking nightshade, is a poisonous plant in the family Solanaceae. The origins of the name are unclear, but "hen" probably originally meant death rather than referring to chickens.
Hyoscyamus niger (commonly called by the names ‘Black Henbane’, ‘Henbane’ and ‘Stinking Nightshade’) is an alluring – yet deadly – poisonous biennial of the Solanaceae family, originating from Eurasia. Growing to around ninety centimetres or so tall in full sun, niger is prized for its gorgeously patterned, purple to cream, toxic flowers (the entire plant is poisonous if ingested, with some parts causing irritation to skin too). The plant also emits a strong to unpleasant smell, giving rise to the nickname ‘Stinking Nightshade’.
