Common Nightshade
Solanum ptychanthum
Other Names: Solanum americanum, Solanum nigrum (experts disagree on the scientific name)
|
Family
|
|
|
Flower
|
- star-shaped head is ~8 mm (3/8 inch) 5 white petals that bend slightly back toward stem
- cone in center of petals composed of yellow anthers
|
|
Leaf
|
- 5-10 cm (2-4 inches)
- irregularly toothed (wavy)
- narrow, pointy, somewhat triangle-shaped
- ovate
|
|
Location
|
- in many parts of North America
- found in open, wooded and distressed areas
|
|
Flowering Time
|
|
|
Other
|
- Non-native species
- fruits are tomato-like berries – shiny and green when unripe, turning black when ripened
- leaves and green, unripe berries contain the poison solanine
- although the toxicity declines with ripening, eating the fruit should be avoided
|
|
Name Origin
|
|
|
|
