HAIRY NIGHTSHADE
Solanum physalifolium var. nitidibaccatum
NIGHTSHADE FAMILY (Solanaceae)
Identification
- Flowering time - June, July, August, September, October
- Rare in disturbed areas on FF floodplain
- Hairy, sticky stems
- Small star-shaped flowers with 5 partially fused petals
- Flower with yellow central 'beak' of fused anthers
This annual nightshade was introduced from South America. It has very hairy stems with sticky glands (C), and white to light blue flowers with bright yellow stamens (A,B,F). Leaf blades are triangular with wavy edges (D). The fruit is a round, green berry, shown developing in image (F), which turns black when ripe. This plant has a rank odor.
Several colonies of this plant were first found on the floodplain of Fontenelle Forest in early October 2012, a year after the major flood. Like several other species thriving on the disturbance after the flood, it is now hard to find.
It flowers from June through October.
This nightshade is similar to our common Black Nightshade (S. ptychanthum), which does not have the hairy stems.
The content of NatureSearch is provided by dedicated volunteer Naturalists of Fontenelle Forest who strive to provide the most accurate information available. Contributors of the images retain their copyrights. The point of contact for this page is: Roland Barth