American black nightshade (Plants of the Middle Rio Grande Bosque)

American black nightshade

Solanum americanum

Summary ⁶

Solanum americanum is a herbaceous flowering plant that grows in a number of different geographic regions. Common names include American black nightshade, small-flowered nightshade, and glossy nightshade. The plant produces shiny toxic black berries containing multiple small seeds.

Botanical Information ⁶

The Solanum americanum, more commonly known as the American black nightshade, is part of the kingdom Plantae, in the order Solanales, and in the family called Solanaceae. It is native in California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Texas, Kansas, Missouri, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. The flowering time for this plant is April through November. The American black nightshade is an annual and perennial plant depending on Plant Hardiness Zone, and usually grows up to 30 inches (76 cm) tall. The green leaves of the plant grow up to 2 - 15 cm, the seed is 1 – 1.5 mm, and the dark purple or black ripe fruit grows to 5 – 8 mm.

Ecological Information ⁶

American black nightshade can be found in many habitats from subshrub, desert, upland, and riparian. It can grow in many different types of soils and even though it prefers full sun, some shade is tolerated. This plant can easily turn into a weed. Bees and other insects can cross-pollinate, but American black nightshade is usually self-pollinating.

Ethnobotanical Information ⁶

Eating too much of this plant could cause diarrhea or cardiac arrest. Glycoalkaloid solanine is found in unripe fruits and the leaves have the highest concentration. Experts advise not to eat this plant because of how toxic the American black nightshade is.

References ⁷

Fern, K. (n.d.). Solanum americanum, Useful Tropical Plants. Tropical Plants Database. Retrieved April 1, 2019, from https://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Solanum+americanum

Kinsey, B. T. (2010, March 10). Solanum americanum, American Black Nightshade. Southeastern Arizona Wildflowers and Plants. Retrieved April 1, 2019, from https://www.fireflyforest.com/flowers/2364/solanum-americanum-american-black-nightshade/

Nee, M. H. (2012). Solanum americanum. Jepson Flora Project. Retrieved April 1, 2019, from https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=44818

United States Department of Agriculture. (2014). Solanum americanum Mill.. In
PLANTS Database. Retrieved April 1, 2019, from https://plants.usda.gov/home/plantProfile?symbol=SOAM

About the Author ⁶

Student author*: Litzi (age 16) from The International School at Mesa del Sol

*The entries in this field guide have been edited by Yerba Mansa Project staff to ensure that they contain quality, fact-checked content and standardized formatting. https://yerbamansaproject.org/

Sources and Credits

(c) Sunnetchan, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), uploaded by Sunnetchan
(c) Mauricio Mercadante, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/mercadanteweb/32841206197/
(c) Mauricio Mercadante, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/mercadanteweb/9958601035/
(c) Mauricio Mercadante, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/mercadanteweb/9958598975/
(c) Forest and Kim Starr, some rights reserved (CC BY), https://www.flickr.com/photos/starr-environmental/24620528222/
Adapted by albuquerqueherbalism from a work by (c) smiller33, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
Adapted by Kiley Spurlock from a work by (c) smiller33, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

More Info

iNat Map

Berry	black
Flower	white
Uses	medicinal
Type	herb
Life cycle	Annual and Perennial
Native	yes
Habitat	Disturbed Soils to Woodlands

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