Practical
Plants

Solanum americanum

American Nightshade

an annual member of the Solanum genus in the family Solanaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Solanum
Life cycle
annual
Height
1 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Although no specific mention of the leaves being toxic has been seen for this species, it belongs to a genus where many if not all the members have poisonous leaves. The immature fruit is poisonous[2].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Young leaves - cooked. The leaves contain about 6990mg of beta carotene per 100g[2]. Caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity. Fruit - cooked. It should be used only when fully ripe[2]. Caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity.

Plant part
Fruit
Plant part
Leaves

Environment

Range
S. America.
Habitat
Rocky or dry open woods, thickets, shores or openings, often on cultivated or waste ground[3].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out after the last expected frosts.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will succeed in Britain, though it should be possible to grow it as a spring-sown annual. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Succeeds in most soils[1].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Crowe. A. Native Edible Plants of New Zealand. Hodder and Stoughton 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-340-508302

    ↩1↩2↩3

  3. Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00

    ↩

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