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Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board |
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Class C Noxious Weed
Black henbane
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Other common names:
Hog's bean, stinking nightshade
Plant family:
Solanaceae
Year listed:
1988
Native to:
Europe
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Why is it a noxious weed? |
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Black henbane has been cultivated as an ornamental and has spread throughout the United States. It contains hyoscyamine and other alkaloids which have been know to cause occasional livestock poisoning. Black henbane is also considered a poisonous plant to humans. |
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How would I identify it? |
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Annual or biennial, 1 to 3 feet tall. Leaves: Coarsely-toothed to shallowly lobed leaves that are sticky and hairy with a foul odor. Flowers: Brownish-yellow with a purple center and purple veins. Flowers are on long racemes in axils of upper leaves. Stems: Upright, tough and can be very thick. |
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How does it reproduce? |
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Black henbane reproduces by seed. Each fruit capsule contains hundreds of tiny seeds that are highly germinable and will remain viable in the soil for several years. |
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Where does it grow? |
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| Black henbane can be found growing in pastures, fencerows, roadsides, and waster areas. | |||||||||||||
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What is the distribution in Washington State? |
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How do I control it? |
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General control methods: Cultural: Good vegetative cover considerably reduces the chance of infestation. Black henbane with mature fruits can be burned to kill the seed and reduce spread. It will not tolerate plowing, disking, or cultivation. Herbicide: Please refer to the PNW Weed Management Handbook, or contact your county noxious weed coordinator. Mechanical: Hand-pulling or digging can be effective if the taproot is entirely removed. In order to prevent seed dispersal, plants with mature fruits should be put in bags after removal. The area must be monitored for new seedlings for at least four years. Mechanical control methods are only effective for small infestations. Wear gloves and protective clothing when handling the plants to prevent rashes. Biological: None known. |
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Are there plants that may be confused with (name of weed)? |
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For more information |
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View taxonomic account from Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) for ITIS Taxonomic Serial Number 30523. View photographs and distribution from University of Washington Burke Museum.
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Last updated August 25, 2008