Ireland's OWN Myths & Magic

Named for Atropos, one of the three Fates, whose particular business it was to snip the thread of life.
This genus of herbs, although very poisonous, has important uses in medicine.
The specific name, Belladonna, means "pretty lady," and was used in Italy and Greece by women to make their eyes appear larger and brighter.
It is thought that witches took small amounts of belladonna, which can have an hallucinatory effect. It is believed this is where the belief that witches can fly originated. Those who partook of the magickal herb, really did believe they could fly.

Sources:

Personal knowledge / traditions.
Smith, A.W. The Gardener's Handbook of Plant Names: Their Meanings and Origins. Dover Publications, 1997.

For more about flowers, plants and herbs, see Ireland's OWN Myths and Magic