Horsenettle, Bullnettle

(Solanum carolinense L.)

Solanaceae (Nightshade Family)

▲ young sprout from creeping roots

▲ ▼ young flowering plants

▲ spines on stems

▲ flowers

▲ ▼ immature and mature fruit

 

Horsenettle, Bull nettle:  (pp. 534-535, Weeds of the Great Plains; pp. 316-317, 374 in Weeds of the Northeast)

o   spiny creeping perennial weed that spreads by creeping roots (similar to groundcherries)

o   spiny stems, leaf undersides; grows 6-24" tall

o   flowers white/lavender; marble-sized, yellow, tomato-like fruit

o   prefers sandy soils, but will grow in all but very wet or compacted soils

o   alternate host for the potato beetle, and should be controlled if potatoes will be grown in the area

o   can be controlled by post-emergent herbicides and shading

o   Similar species, Robust Horsenettle: (not in Weeds of Nebraska nor Weeds of the Great Plains)

·         Flowers almost always purplish or purple-tinged

·         Leaves have larger, more rounded lobes than horsenettle

·         Leaf undersides have branched hairs with 8-12 branches per hair