Label Type
Cultural/Historical ContextLabel
In Irish folklore, belladonna holds a mysterious and ominous reputation. With glossy berries and lush foliage, belladonna is striking yet perilous, containing potent alkaloids that can cause hallucinations, delirium, and even death if ingested. Irish tales often describe it as a plant associated with the supernatural, used by witches and herbalists for its powerful effects. Known as a "faery herb," it was believed to protect from or even lure in faeries. In folklore, belladonna could grant visions of the otherworld, a mystical insight often sought by seers and healers. However, its association with both divination and death cemented its role as one of Ireland’s most feared and revered plants, a symbol of the delicate balance between beauty and danger in the natural world. (From "Herbs in Heritage: Ethnobotany in Irish Folklore," Marvin Samson Museum for the History of Pharmacy, Jun 15 - Dec 31, 2024)