Bittersweet (Solanum dulcamara)
Flowers: May to September followed by clusters of bright red berries.
Height: Up to 200cm (80in).
Also called Woody Nightshade, Poisonberry and Snakeberry. Valued by herbalists since ancient Greek times it was used with caution as all parts of the plant are poisonous.
Medicinal: The stems and flowers were used to treat skin problems and rheumatism, warts and tumours. John Gerard’s Herball (1597) states that the juice is “good for those that have fallen from high places, and have been thereby bruised or beaten, for it is thought to dissolve blood congealed or cluttered anywhere in the intrals and to heale the hurt places”.
Magic & Myth: Culpeper’s Complete Herbal (1653) said “It is good to remove witchcraft both in man and beast”. The plant was sometimes hung around the neck of cattle to protect them from evil.
