Hyoscyamus

Hyoscyamus is a genus of flowering plants in the nightshade family, Solanaceae. It comprises about 20 species, including the well-known Henbane (Hyoscyamus niger).

Description

The plants are annual or biennial herbs, covered with glandular hairs, that exude a characteristic foul smell. The leaves are alternate, simple, and entire or pinnately lobed. The flowers are solitary and axillary, or form few-flowered cymes. They are somewhat zygomorphic and have a double perianth. The fruit is a capsule.

Uses

Several species are used in traditional medicine, and some contain the alkaloids hyoscyamine and scopolamine, which are used as a sedative and to treat nausea and motion sickness.

Species

The genus includes the following species:

• Hyoscyamus albus – White Henbane
• Hyoscyamus aureus – Golden Henbane
• Hyoscyamus bohemicus – Bohemian Henbane
• Hyoscyamus niger – Black Henbane
• Hyoscyamus pusillus – Dwarf Henbane
• Hyoscyamus reticulatus – Netted Henbane
• Hyoscyamus scoparius – Broom Henbane
• Hyoscyamus senecionis – Senecio Henbane

See also

• List of plants used in herbalism
• List of poisonous plants

References

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