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Douglas' Nightshade

Solanum Douglasii

Photo by HemaShah
Published on Project Noah
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37.8944, -122.036

Field Notes

Description:

I found this plant growing randomly in the park under a pine tree by a creek. The flowers were very small compared to the leaves. Pretty flowers.
A short-lived, much-branched, 3-6 ft. high perennial shrub; widespread and common, especially in shade, along streams and moist slopes in riparian and scrub habitats. Solanine, a glyco-alkaloid, found throughout the plant is extremely toxic. Propagated by clonal development and seedlings (Clarke). Closely resembles Black Nightshade (S. nigrum) and S. americanum, which have much shorter anthers. Cahuilla Indians used juice of the berries for tattooing and to cure inflamed eyes. Flowering: year round

Species ID Suggestions

Horse Nettle

Solanum carolinense

Horse Nettle

Solanum carolinense

Black Nightshade

Solanum nigrum

Comments (5)

Chester, i googled, Night Shade in California and found this link. http://nathistoc.bio.uci.edu/plants/Solanaceae/Solanum%20douglasii.htm
Well I am glad I do not have to make that call. How did you reach that conclusion Jemma?
http://nathistoc.bio.uci.edu/plants/Solanaceae/Solanum%20douglasii.htm
Chester, Aaron and Pradeep. It is Douglas' Night shade, Solanum Douglasii. Check this link out. Solanum douglasii
I do not think S. carolinense grows in California, and this plant does not appear to have any of the characteristic spines.
Photographed
PublishedOctober 1, 2013

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