Solanum americanum
American black nightshade
Specimens
Photos

Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east along the southern border of the U.S. to the Atlantic Coast.

Habitat: Disturbed open areas, roadsides, waste ground.

Flowers: July-September

Origin: Introduced from Europe

Growth Duration: Annual, Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Bumblebees, bees, flies

Description:
General:

Annual to subshrub, 3-8 dm. in height, hairs not present or short, occasionally appressed or curved, nonglandular.

Leaves:

Leaves 2-15 cm. long, ovate, entire to coarsely wavy-toothed.

Flowers:

Inflorescence umbel or raceme-like; calyx 1-2 mm. long, lobes in fruit recurved; corolla 3-6 mm. wide, deeply lobed, white; anthers 1.4-2.2 mm. long; style 2.5-4 mm. long.

Fruits:

Berries 5-8 mm. in diameter, black or green; seeds are 1-1.5 mm. long.

Accepted Name:
Solanum americanum Mill.
Publication: Gard. Dict., ed. 8. [unpaged] Solanum no. 5. 1768.

Synonyms & Misapplications:
Solanum nigrum L. var. americanum (Mill.) O.E. Schulz
Solanum nigrum L. var. virginicum L. [HC]
Additional Resources:

PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Solanum americanum in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database.

WA Flora Checklist: Solanum americanum checklist entry.

OregonFlora: Solanum americanum information.

E-Flora BC: Solanum americanum atlas page.

CalPhotos: Solanum americanum photos.

USDA Plants: Solanum americanum information.

21 photographs:
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