365 Urban Species. #156: Bittersweet Nightshade

[urbpan]

Urban species #156: Bittersweet nightshade Solanum dulcamara


Photo by cottonmanifesto. Location: Jamaicaway at Olmsted Park, Boston.

Many plants in the family Solanaceae have had long associations with humans. The New World plants tomato and hot pepper changed cuisine around the world, while potato and tobacco affected history itself. Bittersweet nightshade, a rather humbler European herb, was formerly used for a variety of medicinal applications. Today it is simply an attractive weed, a weakly climbing vine that produces colorful tomato-like berries as well as purple and yellow flowers. It is considered invasive, but is generally easier to control than many others. The main worry concerning this plant is that all parts of it, including the enticing fruits, are toxic. It is likely through familiarity with this plant that Europeans mistook the tomato to be poisonous for many years.

Comments

[vyoma.livejournal.com]

When I lived on Long Island, my friends and I used to pick the berries from this plant, mash them up and mix the pulp with suntan lotion. Then we'd go to the beach and go bodysurfing and put the tainted suntan lotion on after coming out of the water. We'd get seriously high from it after just a few minutes. Good thing we didn't kill ourselves, eh?

[drocera.livejournal.com]

This plant reminds me of childhood. I mean, what kid WASNT fascinated by those tiny, poisonous "tomatos"?

[sin-agua.livejournal.com]

There are so many nightshades! Out here in Tucson, we have White Horse Nettle or Silver-leaf Nightshade, depending on your choice of name. I was always fascinated with those little yellow "tomatoes," too. :)

Bittersweet nightshade

[(Anonymous)]

You are crazy!! little "tomatoes" indeed!!

Give me some helpful information to tell me whether this IS of IS NOT poisonous to goats---please!!

Well...hope there is someone who KNOWS something about goats out there.

Sincerely,

*****Me of course*****

Re: Bittersweet nightshade

[(Anonymous)]

Okay, here is some helpful information.

This is not bittersweet nightshade. It is close though, it is called "woody bittersweet nightshade" because of its woody stems as you described it.

Yes, it is poisonous to goats as well as rabbits, lamas, horses, sheep, etc. etc.(almost anything that has four legs:)

Symptions are: lack of appite,Abdominal pain Unconsciousness, death in 2-6 hours if they eat alot.

hope this helps!!

And yes, I agree-those people about the "all kinds of nightshade...call it what you want" ARE crazy!! get some sense!!


Sincerely,

Joannah