Common Names: American black
nightshade, small flowered nightshade, glossy nightshade
Latin Names: Solanum americanum
Type: Herbaceous
Origin: Eurasia
Description: The plant grows 2-5’
tall. The leaves are alternate and up to 4” long. The flowers are white or
light purple. The ripe fruit is a shiny black berry.
Edible: Unripe fruit (green) contains toxins. Fully ripe black fruit are edible
and used for jams and pies. Make sure the berries are black and shiny since
similar looking plants exist where the toxic berries are other colors and not
shiny. Leaves and sprouts may be edible as a potherb and at least one
site says to use young leaves. Another site says to boil the leaves twice
before eating.
Tried
black berries. Tastes great but not enough on one plant to do anything. Berries
ripe in June-July.
Other uses: Whole plant has medicinal
use.
Notes: Toxicity varies depending on genetic strain, soil, and rainfall.
Considered a crop in some areas of the world and a weed in others. This is
growing near the compost heap.
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| American black nightshade (April) |
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