Solanum nigrum

Read about Solanum nigrum in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

Solanum nigrum, Linn. Black Nightshade. Morella of the French. Low unarmed herbaceous annual or suffrutescent in warm climates, glabrous or the young parts sometimes sparingly pubescent: lvs. simple, ovate, narrowed at both ends, entire or more frequently sinuate-toothed, petioled: fls. small, white, in pedunculate lateral cymes; calyx much shorter than the corolla with small obtuse lobes; corolla about 1/2 in. diam.: berry globular, black, about 1/4 in. diam. A widely distributed weed in all temperate and tropical regions.—In the Dakotas, according to Hansen, the plant is often called "stubbleberry," as it volunteers freely in wheat-stubble, and the fr. is used there for pies and preserves. Hansen finds that the plants withstand considerable frost. In warm countries, according to Vilmorin, the lvs. are sometimes eaten as spinach is, "and apparently without any injurious result, although the plant belongs to the dangerous family of the Solanaceae." The species is extremely variable, and much difference of opinion exists in regard to the poisonous qualities of the berries. Possibly differences exist in this respect in different forms but not correlated with characters recognizable by the systematist. Var. guineense, Linn., with scarcely angled to angular smooth st., broadly ovate lvs. glabrous above and glabrous or sparingly pilose below, deeply lobed calyx and relatively large fr., is the "garden huckleberry" (Fig. 3629). This form is cult. to some extent in some sections and the fr. used for pies and preserves. Another form, S. Burbankii, bitter, with foliage rather dark green above, and erect or ascending peduncles, is stated by the originator to be a hybrid between the "garden huckleberry" and S. villosum of the Pacific coast. In some characters it appears to be intermediate between its supposed parents, and it is used as is the former. The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

? Solanum nigrum
Plant Info
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Solanales Family: Solanaceae Genus: Solanum Species: S. nigrum
Binomial name
Solanum nigrum L.
Subspecies
S. nigrum subsp. nigrum S. nigrum subsp. schultesii

Black nightshade berries

Solanum nigrum (Black Nightshade, Duscle, Garden Nightshade, Hound's Berry, Petty Morel, Small-fruited black nightshade, Sunberry, or Wonderberry) is a species in the Solanum genus, native to Eurasia and also introduced in the Americas.

The green berries and mature leaves contain glycoalkaloids and are poisonous to eat raw. Their toxicity varies and there are some strains which have edible berries when fully ripe. The plant has a long history of medicinal usage, dating back to ancient Greece.

Black nightshade is a fairly common plant, found in many wooded areas, as well as disturbed habitats. It has a height of 30-120 cm (12-48"), leaves 4-7.5 cm (1 1/2-3") long; ovate to heart-shaped, with wavy or large-toothed edges. The flowers have petals greenish to whitish, recurved when aged and surround prominent bright yellow anthers. The fruits are oval black berries in small hanging clusters.

External links

• Solanum nigrum (Purdue University)