Scientific Name
Solanum nigrum
Common Names
Black-berry nightshade
Origin
Europe
Family
Solanaceae
Distinguishing Characteristics
This is a spreading herb or short-lived perennial shrub to 30 cm, with hairy stems and leaves. Plant is dark green and often purple-green with broadly branching erect stems.
Leaves are oval. Margins are entire and shallowly lobed with both upper and lower leaf surfaces of the same colour green.
Inflorescences (a group of flowers) are 4-12-flowered with short stalks. Flowers are white flushed with violet, star-shaped, 5-petalled with a yellow centre.
Fruit is a succulent, globular berry, green when immature and dull black or purple-black when mature.
Sources & References
"Weeds - an illustrated botanical guide to weeds of Australia" by B. A. Auld and R. W. Medd
"Gardener's Companion to Weeds" by Suzanne Ermert and Leigh Clapp
"Southern Weeds and their control" by John Moore and Judy Wheeler
"Plantnet FloraOnline" http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/
Prepared by Justin KY Chu, July 2005
Checked by Bev Debrincat