Bittersweet nightshade and scurvygrass
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Bittersweet nightshade and scurvygrass
Bittersweet nightshade and scurvygrass.. Bittersweet nightshade, Solanum dulcamara 1, and scurvygrass, Cochlearia officinalis 2. Handcolored copperplate engraving from Friedrich Bertuchs Bilderbuch fur Kinder (Picture Book for Children), Weimar, 1798
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Media ID 14207032
© Florilegius / Mary Evans
Bilderbuchfurkinder Friedrichbertuch Picturebookforchildren Poison Scurvygrass
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Bittersweet Nightshade and Scurvygrass: A Tale of Two Poisonous Plants from the Past This handcolored copperplate engraving, taken from Friedrich Bertuch's Bilderbuch fur Kinder (Picture Book for Children), published in Weimar in 1798, showcases two intriguing and historically significant plants: the Bittersweet Nightshade (Solanum dulcamara, 1) and the Scurvygrass (Cochlearia officinalis, 2). The Bittersweet Nightshade, also known as woody nightshade, is a beautiful yet deceitful plant. Its vibrant, glossy berries are enticing, but they conceal a bitter and poisonous secret. The plant contains solanine, a potent alkaloid that can cause symptoms ranging from nausea and diarrhea to hallucinations and even death if ingested in large quantities. The Bittersweet Nightshade has a long history of use as a natural pesticide and a source of dye, but its toxicity has made it a subject of caution for centuries. Scurvygrass, on the other hand, presents a different kind of danger. This humble plant, also known as sea-blite or rock-cress, was once believed to be the cure for scurvy, a debilitating disease caused by a deficiency of vitamin C. However, the plant itself is not a rich source of vitamin C; rather, it was thought to stimulate the body's production of this essential nutrient. The misconception arose due to the plant's ability to grow in areas with high levels of vitamin C in the soil, leading to the association between the plant and the cure for scurvy. This illustration serves as a reminder of the complex relationship between humans and the natural world. While some plants offer life-saving benefits, others can pose a deadly threat. The Bittersweet Nightshade and Scurvygrass serve as a testament to the importance of understanding the true nature of the plants around us, and the lessons we can learn from their past.
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