Enchanter's-nightshade

Scientific name: Circaea lutetiana

Förekomst: Less common

Enchanter's-nightshade occurs mainly in Scania, where it is quite common, but also in a couple of other southern Swedish landscapes on the west coast and on Öland. On Öland, it is found mainly in the coastal forest at Rälla, Ekerum and Halltorp, in the Hagskog area in Böda and in some karst cracks on Stora alvaret. It grows on muddy soil in beech forests, brook ravines and similar environments.

Enchanter's-nightshade blooms in July-August with small white flowers that sit in a rather elongated cluster. The flowers have glandular hairs

The species name lutetiana comes from the Latin name for the city of Paris (Lutetia) and means 'from Paris'. The name Circaea comes from the Greek Kirke which was a sorceress in the Odyssey.

It was once thought that the Enchanter's-nightshadevwas effective against witchcraft. Old swedish names are trollört and häxling.

Enchanter's-nightshade hittar du på följande platser:

• Halltorps hage
• Ispeudde
• Rälla tall/Rällafältet