Monday, July 2, 2012

Wildflowers of Ainsworth: Enchanter's Nightshade

Enchanter's nightshade
(Click on images to enlarge)

Found beside the trail that used to be the "J" railroad, about where it crosses Duck Creek.

The reason for the name, "enchanter's nightshade," is not clear. Perhaps it has something to do with the genus name, Circaea, which comes from Circe, the enchantress of Greek mythology.

In spite of being called nightshade, "it is not especially toxic," according to the Wikipedia entry. It is not related to deadly nightshade.

Those little blossoms are devilishly hard to photograph, especially early in the morning on a shaded trail when you haven't got a tripod.

Enchanter's nightshade blossom

Other people have taken better photos, e.g., someone from the Connecticut Botanical Society.

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