Black Henbane

Black Henbane

Hyoscyamus niger L.

Solanaceae (Nightshade Family)

▲ young plant rosettes

▲ flowering, fruiting, upright stem

▲ ▼ flower and fruit close-up

▲ stem leaf

▲ ▼ mature plants

▲ ▼ dried plants with "backbone" or vertebrae appearance

Black Henbane:

annual plant with lanceolate, toothed margined, hairy, strong-odored (bad odor▲ ) leaves directly attached to the stem
grows 2-5’ tall in moist to dry soils, full sun
flowers are small (1/2" diameter) at tips of mature stems, followed by urn-like structures held on top side of a curved stem; fruit structures contain many seeds
plant has a ghostly “backbone" look when dried, dead after season’s growth
plant is toxic to people and for livestock grazing