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

Solanum nigrum L. subsp. nigrum
black nightshade
Solanaceae (Potato family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

© Jeremy Smith  Email the photographer   (Photo ID #21728)

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Distribution of Solanum nigrum subsp. nigrum
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Introduction

Black nightshade is an introduced Eurasian species that is now found in North America in several Canadian provinces (AB, BC, MB, NF, NS, ON, QC) and some coastal US states ((AK, AL, CA, DC, FL, HI, MA, MD, ME, NH, NY, OR, SC, VA, WA) (USDA 2010). In British Columbia, it is reported from disturbed sites in the southwestern corner of the province where it has been collected on the mainland (Vancouver, Port Coquitlam, Delta), Bowen Island, and Vancouver Island (southeast of Qualicum Beach).

Solanum species are a distinctive plants with 'tomato' type flowers with typical recurved petals and bright yellow stamens. In black nightshade, petals are white to whitish, leaves have wavy or large-toothed edges and are alternate on the stem, fruits are black to black-purple. Plants are perennial, sometimes annual, with an overall dark greenish or purple green colour.

This is considered a poisonous species in the (Canadian Poisonous Plant Information System (2010)).

Taxonomic and Nomenclatural Links

Additional Photo Sources

General References