Climbing
Nightshade (Solanum dulcamara). Also
called Bittersweet, Scarletberry, Deadly Nightshade,
and a large number of other names. This is not the
Deadly Nightshade that was such a favorite in the
Borgias’ kitchen garden; that plant was Atropa
belladonna, an even more poisonous
relative. This has attractive little purple flowers
and bright red berries; it’s a rank and weedy vine
that runs riot in hedges and on banks.
Eastern
Black Nightshade (Solanum ptychanthum).
The flowers are very similar to tomato flowers, but
white instead of yellow. The leaves are pointed ovals,
dark and a little glossy. The fruit is a black berry.
Like many members of the tomato family, this plant is
poisonous, but there are cultivated varieties with
edible fruit. The wild ripe berries are probably not
poisonous, but it’s best to leave them alone. Unripe
berries are definitely toxic.
Solanum saccharoides
Horse Nettle (Solanum carolinense).
A very prickly member of the nightshade or tomato
family. It makes up a little for its thorny
disposition by growing attractive white flowers with
the brightest yellow stamens you can imagine. The
flowers may fade to lavender as they age.
Physalis pubescens
Physalis pruinosa
Physalis subglabrata
Physalis virginiana
Physalis heterophylla
Nicandra physaloides
Datura stramonium