Blackberry nightshade

Description:

Plants are usually sparsely hairy. The leaves have stalks (petioles) 0.5-3 cm long and oval or egg-shaped leaf blades (2-13 x 1-7 cm in size) tapering to a point at the tip. The margins of the leaves are entire or slightly lobed. The flowers are small (8-12 mm across), white and star-shaped, with five petals and a yellow central cone. Flowers are borne in stalked clusters of 4-8 flowers. Flowering occurs from autumn to spring. The fruits are globular, shiny dull black when ripe (although sometimes remaining green) and 6-8 mm in diameter. The fruit are borne pointing downward (ie. reflexed) with small sepals that point outward.

Habitat:

Common weed of untended areas such as pastures and waste areas.

Notes:

Herb growing to 1.25 m tall, with slightly hairy or hairless leaves that are arranged alternately on the stem. Flowers are small, white and star-like and borne on individual stalks. Fruits are dull green, usually turning black as they mature, and are 6-8 mm in diameter. Very similar to Solanum americanum (blackberry nightshade). However, this species has glossy fruit that are borne almost pointing upward, with larger downward pointing sepals.