Atropanthe

Atropanthe (Chinese name 天蓬子 tian peng zi) is a monotypic genus of flowering plants belonging to tribe Hyoscyameae of subfamily Solanoideae of the family Solanaceae.

The single species, Atropanthe sinensis is native to the temperate forests of S. Central China (to Hunan). It is a herbaceous perennial (specifically a rhizomatous hemicryptophyte) which bears a marked similarity (particularly in regard to the form of the corolla) to the related genus Atropa - whence the genus name Atropanthe ( meaning ‘having a flower resembling that of Atropa’). Unlike Atropa, however (and in common with the other genera belonging to subtribe Hyoscyaminae of Hyoscyameae) Atropanthe bears a dry, pyxidial fruit, resembling a pot with a lid (Atropa, the sole member of subtribe Atropinae, bears, by contrast, a fruit taking the form of a juicy, glistening berry).