Atropa acuminata

{{short description|Species of plant}}

{{Speciesbox

|status = EN

|status_system = IUCN3.1

|status_ref = {{cite iucn | author1 = Roland, C. | author2 = Plummer, J. | name-list-style = amp | title = Atropa acuminata | page = e.T149444602A153024629 | doi = 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T149444602A153024629.en | year = 2020 | access-date = 14 August 2022}}

|genus = Atropa

|species = acuminata

|authority = Royle ex Lindl.

}}

Atropa acuminata, also known as maitbrand or Indian belladonna, is a close relative of deadly nightshade{{cite web|url=http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-2665934|title=Atropa acuminata Royle ex Lindl. — The Plant List|publisher=|accessdate=16 January 2016}} of Europe and North Africa and, like it, is an extremely poisonous plant valued in medicine for its richness in tropane alkaloids with anticholinergic, deliriant, antispasmodic and mydriatic properties.{{cite web|url=http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Atropa+acuminata|title=Atropa acuminata Indian Belladonna PFAF Plant Database|publisher=|accessdate=16 January 2016}} The specific name acuminata signifies acuminate i.e. 'tapering to a long point' - in reference to the distinctive shape of the leaves.{{Cite web|url=http://www.efloras.org/object_page.aspx?object_id=86842&flora_id=5|title=Illustration: Atropa acuminata}}

Atropa acuminata is native to the Himalayas, being found in Eastern Afghanistan, the North of India and Pakistan : from Balochistan in the West to Kashmir in the East, in an area including also Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand (part of Uttar Pradesh until the year 2000) and Pakistan's Azad Jammu and Kashmir.{{cite book | title=Medicinal Plants of India and Pakistan | author=Dastur J.F. | year=1962 | publisher=D.P. Taraporevala Sons and Co. Private Ltd. | location=Mumbai | edition=4th, Indian reprint 1977}} The plant described under the name Atropa acuminata Royle ex Miers (which may be referable to A. acuminata Royle ex Lindl.) is found also in Eastern Iran and Mongolia.{{cite web | title = Indian Belladonna | url = http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Indian%20Belladonna.html | website = Flowers of India | access-date = 14 August 2022}}