Solanum americanum var. nodiflorum (Jacq.) Edmonds
Solanum caribaeum Dunal
Solanum curtipes Bitter
Solanum depilatum Bitter
Solanum ganchouenense H. Lév.
Solanum gollmeri Bitter
Solanum humile Lam.
Solanum imerinense Bitter
Solanum inconspicuum Bitter
Solanum indecorum Rich.
Solanum inops Dunal
Solanum minutibaccatum Bitter
Solanum minutibaccatum var. curtipedunculatum Bitter
Solanum nigrum L.
Solanum nigrum var. americanum (Mill.) O.E. Schulz
Solanum nigrum var. atriplicifolium G. Mey.
Solanum nigrum var. minor Hook. f.
Solanum nigrum var. nodiflorum (Jacq.) A. Gray
Solanum nigrum var. pauciflorum Liou
Solanum nigrum var. virginicum L.
Solanum nodiflorum Jacq.
Solanum nodiflorum var. acuminatum Dunal
Solanum nodiflorum var. macrophyllum Dunal
Solanum nodiflorum var. petiolastrum Dunal
Solanum nodiflorum var. puberulum Dunal
Solanum nodiflorum var. sapucayense Chodat
Solanum oleraceum Dunal
Solanum parviflorum Badarò
Solanum photeinocarpum Nakam. & Odash.
Solanum pterocaulon Dunal
Solanum purpuratum Bitter
Solanum quadrangulare Thunb. ex L. f.
Solanum sciaphilum Bitter
Solanum tenellum Bitter
Solanum triangulare Lam.
Solanum americanum, commonly known as American black nightshade,[3]small-flowered nightshade[4] or glossy nightshade, is a
herbaceousflowering plant of wide though uncertain native range. The certain native range encompasses the tropics and subtropics of the
Americas,
Melanesia,
New Guinea, and
Australia.[5]
The plant is widely
naturalised around the tropical Pacific and Indian Oceans, including
Hawaiʻi, Indochina,
Madagascar and
Africa, possibly via
anthropogenic introduction in these locales.
Solanum americanum is one of the most widespread and morphologically variable species belonging to the section Solanum.[6] It can be confused with other black nightshade species in the
Solanum nigrum complex.[7]
Description
Solanum americanum grows up to 1–1.5 metres (39–59 in) tall and is an
annual or short-lived
perennial. The
leaves are alternate on the branch, and vary greatly in size, up to 10 centimetres (3.9 in) long and 7 centimetres (2.8 in) broad, with a 4-centimetre (1.6 in)
petiole and a coarsely wavy or toothed margin. The
flowers are about 1 cm diameter, white or occasionally light purple, with yellow
stamens. The
fruit is a shiny black
berry 5–10 millimetres (0.20–0.39 in) diameter, containing numerous small
seeds.
Taxonomy
Solanum americanum is a variable taxon. It is considered by some botanists to be more than one species, and others recognise subspecies.[5] Some botanists have suggested that Solanum americanum may be conspecific with the European nightshade, S. nigrum.[2]
Toxicity
Research indicates the presence of toxic
glycoalkaloids and there are warnings to be careful on the use of S. americanum as herbal medicine and food.[7] The green fruit is particularly
poisonous and eating unripe berries has caused the death of children.[8] Ripe berries and foliage may also cause poisoning,[8] though the toxicity seems to diminish somewhat with ripening.[9] This is via high levels of the glycoalkaloids,
solanine and
solamargine.[10] Other toxins present in the plant include
chaconine,
solasonine,
solanigrine, gitogenin and traces of
saponins,[11] as well as the
tropane alkaloidsscopolamine (hyoscine),
atropine and
hyoscyamine.[12]
Significant amounts of
solasodine (0.65%) have been found in the green berries.[13] The ripe fruit also contains 0.3–0.45% solasonine,[13] and
acetylcholine, and has a cholinesterase-inhibiting effect on human plasma.[11] In
Transkei, rural people have a high incidence of
esophageal cancer thought to be a result of using S. americanum as a food.[11] Livestock can also be poisoned by high
nitrate levels in the leaves.[11]
Toxicity varies widely depending on the genetic strain and the location conditions, like soil and rainfall.[8][11] Poisonous plant experts advise: "...unless you are certain that the berries are from an edible strain, leave them alone."[14]
^USDA, NRCS (n.d.).
"Solanum americanum". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
^
abConn, Barry J. (2001).
"Solanum americanum – New South Wales Flora Online". PlantNET – The Plant Information Network System. 2.0. Sydney, Australia: The Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust. Retrieved 29 May 2013.
^
abcTull, D. (1999). Edible and Useful Plants of Texas and the Southwest: A Practical Guide. University of Texas Press.
ISBN978-0-292-78164-1.
^Niering, William A.; Olmstead, Nancy C. (1985) [1979]. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers, Eastern Region. Knopf. p. 804.
ISBN0-394-50432-1.
"Solanum americanum Mill". Solanaceae Source. — Images, specimens and a full list of scientific synonyms. Full descriptions and identification keys coming soon!
Medina, Freddy R.; Ritchie, Lawrence S. (October–December 1980). "Molluscicidal Activity of the Puerto Rican Weed, Solanum nodiflorum, against Snail Hosts of Fasciola hepatica". Economic Botany. 34 (4): 368–375.
doi:
10.1007/bf02858313.
JSTOR4254217.
S2CID21001631.