Beware - Atropa bella-donna

Kinloss Abbey again: The Cistercian Abbey was founded by David 1 in 1104, only fragmentary ruins are still standing. The main shows the East Chapel in the south transept. The large green bushy plant in the shade of the archway is Atropa bella-donna, better known as Deadly or Sleepy Nightshade. As the name implies this plant is extremely poisonous. Allegedly Macbeth cunningly secured a victory over the Danes who were led by Sueno, King of Norway ( he of the stone) by mixing extract of Deadly nightshade with a drink made from barley malt and sending the concoction to the Danish camp during a time of truce. The somewhat naive Danes are said to have drunk the offering with disastrous consequences.

The plant (extra) has been recorded as growing in the Abbey grounds since at least 1844 - despite regular attempts to irradicate it with weedkiller.