Bitter Nightshade

(Solanum dulcamara)

 

   

 

 

Color Photograph: Copyright Nearctica.com, Inc.

Line Drawing: Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada, Second Edition.

 

Bitter Nightshade (Solanum dulcamara L.)

Alien: Native of Europe and Asia.

Identification: Flowers dark violet with 5 petals. Petals with tips swept backward. Stamens yellow, large, projecting forward in a beak-shaped structure. Flowers solitary or in small clusters. Fruit an egg-shaped berry, initially green, but turning bright red. Stem smooth, commonly tinged with purple. Leaf compound with a large ovate, apical leaflet with a tapering tip and two small basal leaflets. Plant 2 to 8 feet in height.

Distribution: Throughout most North America except for the southern United States.

Habitat: Bitter Nightshade is most commonly found in disturbed habitats such as fields, empty lots, thickets, and along roadsides.

Flowering period: May to September.

Similar Species: The dark violet flowers and the unique compound leaves will easily identify this species.

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