Botanical name

Solanum nigrum

Family

Solanaceae

Common Name

Nightshade, Nastergal
Solanum nigrum *
Solanum nigrum *

Description

Non-thorny glabrous to thinly-hairy annual up to 1m. Leaves soft, ovate to lanceolate, sometimes toothed, up to 10cm long; white flowers in clusters of 5-10, 5mm across.

Berries black up to 10mm in diameter.

Introduced into South Africa from Europe as early as 1652. Species is a common weed.

Habitat

Sheltered sites and disturbed places

Flower Date

Mainly October

Introduced Plant

Yes