Solanum sisymbriifolium Lam.

Sticky Nightshade; Fire and Ice

Herb

Annual

Vascular

Fire and Ice is an introduced annual or short-lived perennial herb in the Nightshade family (Solanaceae). It is native to South America. In Alabama in occurs in the southern half of the state. Fire and Ice occurs on dunes, on roadsides, in fields and pastures, and in other disturbed sites. It is an annual or short-lived frost tender herb with a rhizome. The erect or sprawling stems reach 2-4 feet in height. The stems are branched, green in color, pubescent with glandular and stellate hairs, and with large prickles. The leaves are alternate, petiolate, ovate-lanceolate in outline, and deeply pinnately lobed or dissected. The leaves are pubescent on both surfaces with stellate and glandular hairs, and armed with prickles. Flowers are produced in 1-10 flowered racemes that arise from the stem between the leaves. Individual flowers may be perfect or staminate. The calyx is 5-parted, green in color, pubescent with glandular and stellate hairs, and with large prickles. The calyx covers and protects the developing fruit. The corolla is 5 lobed and white, blue, or purplish in color. The fruit is red globular berry. Fire and Ice is considered an invasive species in many parts of the world. It is also grown as a trap crop for potato cyst nematodes. The fruits are consumed by birds and small mammals who spread the seed.—A. Diamond

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Not Native

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