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Hyoscyamus niger

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Also known as: Henbane; Black henbane; Hog’s-bean; Jupiter’s bean;
Symphonica; Cassilata; Cassilago; Deus Caballinus;
Henbell and Jusquiame

Plant folklore: Used to crown the dead in Hade as they walked beside the Styx.
Used to treat convulsions and mania in insane asylums.
“Small” dose treats muscle spasms but “large” dose fatal. In Germany, throwing henbane into water will bring rain!
Used to promote hallucination during rituals. Used to flavour beer. Evidence of its use during the Neolithic period in Scotland.
Some suggestions of its use in flying potions for witches, and may have been involved in funerals to assist the spirit of the dead to fly away.
Inhaling the smoke of burning henbane promots prophesy.

Factual inf: Relative of Atropa Belladonna and very toxic.
Extremely toxic to poultry. One plant can produce over 400,000 seeds.

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Comments

 

Fascinating stuff Alice :)

PS. Will it make me go faster on my broomstick...? Lol x

21 Nov, 2009

 

Good photo AA and interesting info:~)

21 Nov, 2009

 

Di.!!...you should know better than I.....lol....:)))

21 Nov, 2009

 

That's what Morgana must have used on Halloween!

21 Nov, 2009

 

It was Wagger the secret is out now lol

Its interesting that from just one plant so many seeds.

21 Nov, 2009

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