The nightshade family includes almost 100 genera of plants with a great diversity. Some plants are extremely poisonous, such as belladonna. This is mainly due to alkaloids, which are often found in abundance in nightshade plants.
Are nightshades always poisonous?
Nightshade plants are often poisonous, including the particularly dangerous deadly nightshade. Symptoms of poisoning include digestive problems, heart failure and shortness of breath. Edible species include potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, chili and eggplant. Be careful with decorative species such as summer jasmine.
Are there also edible nightshades?
Black nightshade is sometimes described as edible, but this only refers to the ripe berries without seeds. Consumption is therefore generally not recommended. However, eggplants, peppers, chili, tomatoes and potatoes, which also belong to the nightshade family, are actually edible. Other species, such as summer jasmine, are at least very decorative, but still poisonous.
The most important things in brief:
- mostly poisonous
- particularly poisonous: the belladonna (bot. Atropa belladonna)
- Symptoms of poisoning: digestive problems (nausea, vomiting, salivation), heart failure, shortness of breath
- In the worst case, death from respiratory paralysis is possible
- edible exceptions: potatoes, tomatoes, tamarillo, peppers, chili, eggplant and others
Tip
The very decorative summer jasmine is also one of the poisonous nightshade plants.
