Black Nightshade

Solanum nigrum L.

Solanaceae (Nightshade Family)

Seedling ­¯; showing green leaf undersides found on this species ¯

Mature plant ­

Fruit ­

Black Nightshade: 

o   much branched, summer annual weed, 1-4' tall

o   produces small white flowers and large, rounded (up to 1/2" diameter) blackish-purple fruit

o   grows in cultivated fields, gardens, waste areas

o   unripe berries may be poisonous

o    plants not spiny

o  eastern black nightshade similar and more common, but has smaller fruit (about 1/4" diameter) and usually leaf undersides are purplish, not green as on black nightshade

o   hairy nightshade  is similar to eastern black nightshade, but leaves very hairy, berries stay greenish and usually don't darken much when ripe