By East Kootenay Invasive Species Society

Black henbane, originally from the Mediterranean region, was introduced to North America for its ornamental and medicinal uses. This hardy plant thrives in a variety of environments and is commonly found in disturbed areas, rangelands, croplands, roadsides, and along waterways.

Why does Black henbane spread so aggressively? A single plant can produce anywhere from 10,000 to 500,000 seeds, allowing it to disperse rapidly over large areas. It also forms dense stands that outcompete native vegetation, reducing available forage for livestock and wildlife.

In addition to its invasive nature, Black henbane emits a foul odor and contains toxic compounds that can beharmful to both humans and animals if consumed.

How to Identify:

Black henbane can be an annual or biennial, growing up to one metre tall. The stems are upright, thick, and almost woody.

The flowers are funnel-shaped with five lobes and brownish-yellow with dark purple veins.

The leaves are large, up to 20 cm long and 15 cm wide, with shallowly lobed edges. They grow in an alternate pattern and are covered in fine, sticky hairs

Impacts:

Every part of black henbane is toxic to both humans and animals if ingested, as it contains harmful alkaloids.

Poisoning symptoms may include blurred vision, convulsions, and coma, and in severe cases, it can lead to heart or respiratory failure.

This invasive plant can also contaminate seed crops and competes aggressively with various agricultural crops, including wheat, millet, and cotton, reducing yields and overall productivity.

Management Strategies:

• Preventing the spread of Black henbane is a top priority.
• Maintaining healthy vegetation cover is key to preventing its spread.
• Although black henbane has historical medicinal uses, avoid planting or distributing it to help control itsimpact.

Mechanical/Manual Control:

– Mowing can be effective on young plants before they develop thick stems.

– Hand-pulling or digging is successful, but gloves, long sleeves, and pants should be worn to prevent skin irritation from the plant’s hairs. Ensure the entire taproot is removed to prevent regrowth.

– Black henbane cannot tolerate plowing, discing, or cultivation.

The East Kootenay Invasive Species Council works to minimize the threat of invasive species that impact the environment, the economy and human health in the East Kootenay region of B.C., and we couldn’t do it without you! as a non-profit, we rely on grant funding and the generous support of our community to operate. Your donation will help us continue to protect the East Kootenay from invasive species. Donate here.

East Kootenay Invasive Species Society photos

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