Solanum americanum
| Solanum americanum | |
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| American Nightshade | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Solanales |
| Family: | Solanaceae |
| Genus: | Solanum |
| Species: | S. americanum |
| Binomial name | |
| Solanum americanum Mill. |
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| Synonyms | |
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American nightshade or Glossy nightshade(Solanum americanum) is a herbaceous flowering plant of wide though uncertain native range. The certain native range encompasses the tropics and subtropics of the Americas, Melanesia, Meganesia, and Australia [2] [3]. 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.
It 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.
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[edit] Toxicity
The green fruit is particularly poisonous, and ripe berries and foliage can also cause poisoning.[4] The berries and foliage can contain high levels of solanine and solamargine, which are toxic glycoalkaloids,[5], as well as the tropane alkaloids scopolamine (hyoscine) and hyoscyamine (an isomer of atropine).[6] Eating unripe berries has caused the death of children.[4]. Toxicity varies widely depending on the variety and the location in the world,[4] and hence consumption is extremely risky without knowing the safety or otherwise of the local variant.
[edit] Food
At least five species of the large Solanum nigrum complex are considered edible in Uganda, including S.americanum, S. scabrum, S. villosum, S. tarderemotum and S. florulentum. In Africa, New Guinea and Oceania the young green shoots of Solanum americanum are cooked and eaten as greens.[7][8] However care should be taken since numerous toxins are reported with levels varying with local conditions and varieties.[4]
[edit] Medicine
It is used as a medicine in Cameroon, Kenya, Hawaiʻi, Panama, Sierra Leone, and Tanzania.
[edit] Identification
American nightshade can be confused with a variety of other related nightshades. Here is a quick guide for differentiating between species.
- American nightshade Solanum americanum
The undersides of its hairy leaves are not reddish-purple. The berries are speckled with white until it is fully ripe and turns black.
- Black nightshade Solanum nigrum
Berries are purple or dark green and dull. They are almost completely exposed (very small calyx).
- Eastern black nightshade Solanum ptycanthum
The undersides of the leaves are reddish purple and the berries are dark.
- Hairy nightshade Solanum villosum
Berries are light green or yellow when ripe and the leaves are so hairy that they may feel sticky.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ GRIN Taxonomy
- ^ http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Solanum~americanum
- ^ http://keys.trin.org.au:8080/key-server/data/0e0f0504-0103-430d-8004-060d07080d04/media/Html/taxon/Solanum_americanum.htm
- ^ a b c d Tull, D., Edible and Useful Plants of Texas and the Southwest: A Practical Guide. University of Texas Press, 1999. ISBN: 978-0-292-78164-1
- ^ Al Chami, L.; Mendez, R.; Chataing, B.; O'Callaghan, J.; Usubilliga, A.; Lacruz, L.; "Toxicological effects of α-solamargine in experimental animals", Phytotherapy Research, 2003, vol. 17, no.3, pp.254-258 [1]
- ^ 'Wildflowers of Tucson - Arizona Poisonous Tucson Plants'[2]
- ^ Electronic Flora of South Australia[3]
- ^ "African crop or poisonous nightshade; the enigma of poisonous or edible black nightshade solved", "African Journal of Ecology", 2005, vol. 43, pp.158-161 [4]
[edit] External links
- Missouriplants: Solanum americanum (numerous photos, detailed description)
- Germplasm Resources Information Network: Solanum americanum
- Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk: Solanum americanum (very detailed description)
- Identifying nightshades as weeds
- Edmonds, J. M. & J. A. Chweya, 1997: Black nightshades, Solanum nigrum L., and related species. Promoting the conservation and use of underutilized and neglected crops 15. - IPGRI/IPK, Rome/Gatersleben 113 pp
- Solanum americanum Mill. on Solanaceae Source - Images, specimens and a full list of scientific synonyms. Full descriptions and identification keys coming soon!
- Plants for a future
- Molluscicidal Activity of the Puerto Rican Weed, Solanum nodiflorum
