E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Flora of British Columbia

Solanum dulcamara L. var. dulcamara
European bittersweet (climbing nightshade)
Solanaceae (Potato family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants
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E-Flora BC Static Map
Distribution of Solanum dulcamara var. dulcamara
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Introduction

Solanum species are distinctive plants in the Potato or Tomato Family, with 'tomato' type flowers that have typical recurved petals and bright yellow stamens, and alternate leaves.

Species Information

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General:
Perennial vine from a rhizome; stems shrubby below, 0.1-3 m long.
Leaves:
Basal leaves lacking; stem leaves widely egg-shaped, sometimes with basal lobes, heart-shaped at the base, 2.5-8 cm long, 1.5-5 cm wide.
Flowers:
Inflorescence of terminal, umbrella-shaped clusters of flowers on stalks 1.5-4 cm long; corollas blue or violet, lobed, the lobes 5-9 mm long but soon bent back; calyces 3-4 mm long; anthers yellow.
Fruits:
Berries, globe- to egg-shaped, bright red, 8-11 mm wide; seeds 2-3 mm long.

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Habitat / Range

Moist to mesic waste places in the lowland and steppe zones; common in SW BC (lower Fraser Valley) infrequent in SC and SE BC; introduced from Eurasia.

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Climate

The climate type for this species, as reported in the: "British Columbia plant species codes and selected attributes. Version 6 Database" (Meidinger et al. 2008), is cool temperate & cool mesothermal.

Taxonomic and Nomenclatural Links

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General References