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Eastern black nightshade - Solanum ptycanthum Dun.
Weed Identification in Nurseries and Landscapes > Eastern black nightshade
Eastern black nightshade plant
Young eastern black nightshade plant.
Eastern black nightshade leaf Eastern black nightshade leaf surface
Upper leaf surface of eastern black nightshade. Purplish lower leaf surface of eastern black nightshade.
Life cycle: Erect, branching summer annual.

Leaves: Seedlings have small, egg-shaped cotyledons with a pointed tip and a purplish tinge underneath followed by alternate, petiolated, simple leaves. First leaves are generally smooth, egg-shaped with wavy margins and a purplish tinge underneath; later leaves are slightly hairy, egg- to diamond-shaped with smooth to irregularly toothed margins.

Stems: Erect and branching, up to 3-foot-tall stems with few hairs.

Flowers and fruit: Flowers are white to purple-tinged, star-shaped with five petals fused at the base surrounding five bright yellow anthers; found in downward facing clusters. Berries are glossy black at maturity and globe-shaped, and contain up to 110 seeds.
Reproduction: Seeds.

Toxicity: All plant parts are toxic to animals.
Eastern black nightshade fruit Eastern black nightshade seedling
Eastern black nightshade mature berries. Eastern black nightshade seedling.
 
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Updated: 10/17/07