The New Student's Reference Work/Nightshade

Night′shade, an order of tropical and subtropical herbs and shrubs and a few trees, having for the most part a heavy, offensive odor. There are over a thousand species, the greatest number being found in Central and South America. The leaves have the property of putting to sleep, but lose this when boiled. The typical nightshade has a slender stem, pointed oval leaves, white clustered flowers and small rounded black berries. The several kinds are known by different names — the woody nightshade as bittersweet, deadly nightshade as belladonna, and enchanter’s nightshade as circæa.