Solanum americanum Mill.

American Black Nightshade

Herb

Annual

Vascular

American Black Nightshade is a native annual in the Nightshade family (Solanaceae). It can be found throughout Alabama. American Black Nightshade occurs primarily in disturbed habitats such as in fields and gardens, in vacant lots, in pastures, and on roadsides. It is an erect annual from a tap root. Stems are branched above the middle. Plants are from 1-3 feet in height. Stems are angular and green or purplish in color. Stems are glabrous or pubescent with appressed hairs. Leaves are alternate, ovate to lanceolate in outline, with entire or irregularly dentate margins. The leaves are glabrous or pubescent with short appressed hairs. Flowers are produced in umbles. The corolla is white with 5 spreading or reflexed lobes, and the bright yellow stamens are clearly visible. The fruit is a shiny black berry containing many flat white seed. The calyx lobes are reflexed in mature fruit. The fruit contains 5 or fewer concentrations of stone cells. American Black Nightshade contains several compounds that are toxic to humans or livestock when consumed. The foliage and immature fruit are particularly toxic.--A. Diamond

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Native FACU+ (NWPL)

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