This, is as its name suggests is a deadly plant, but thankfully unlikely to be mistaken for any edible plants by adults. Its strange flowers hint at an exotic nature, but this a native plant. It can be eaten by cows, rabbits, and some birds, but all parts are poisonous to humans, containing as they do, the alkaloid atropine. The main hazard is the black, almost cherry like berries that can be attractive to young children.
It is a perennial and has a shrubby habit, growing up to 2m tall. It prefers calcareous soils in open woodland, field margins and hedgerows, but has been planted extensively outside of its preferred habitat.
