Solanum physalifolium (Hairy Nightshade)

Plant Info
Also known as: Hoe Nightshade, Argentine Nightshade, Ground Cherry Nightshade
Genus:Solanum
Family:Solanaceae (Potato)
Life cycle:annual, short-lived perennial
Origin:South America
Status:
  • Weedy
Habitat:sun; disturbed soil; agricultural fields, roadsides, waste areas
Bloom season:June - September
Plant height:1 to 3 feet
Wetland Indicator Status:none
MN county distribution (click map to enlarge):Minnesota county distribution map
National distribution (click map to enlarge):National distribution map

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Detailed Information

Flower: Flower shape: 5-petals Cluster type: raceme

[photo of flowers] Small clusters of a few stalked flowers, mostly opposite a leaf along branching stems. Flowers are ¼ to 1/3 inch across with 5 white petals that are fused at the base, the triangular lobes spreading into a star shape, or strongly curled back. The petal base is tinged purplish green with a streak of yellow. Protruding from the center is a column of stamens with long, yellow tips. The calyx is less than ¼ inch long and has 5 triangular lobes. The calyx, flower stalks and outer surface of the petals are densely covered in sticky glandular hairs.

Leaves and stems: Leaf attachment: alternate Leaf type: simple

[photo of leaf] Leaves are 1½ to 3 inches long, 1 to 2 inches wide, egg-shaped to somewhat triangular, pointed at the tip and a rounded or wedge-shaped base with a short taper to a slightly winged stalk. Edges are densely hairy, often wavy, and are toothless or with a few shallow lobes or large, rounded teeth.

[photo of leaf hairs] Surfaces are variously covered in sticky glandular hairs as well as dots of glands, and typically with long hairs along the major veins on the underside. Stems are many branched, erect or more often sprawling, and densely hairy.

Fruit: Fruit type: berry/drupe

[photo of fruit] Fruit is a round berry, ¼ to 1/3 inch in diameter, initially green becoming opaque greenish brown at maturity. Inside are numerous, flattened seeds. The calyx enlarges as fruit develops, the lobes encasing about half the fruit then spreading out when fruit is ripe.

Notes:

An uncommon weed in Minnesota, this South American native is more widespread in the western US and is a serious pest of potato fields, acting as a reservoir for aphids and potato leafroll virus. This species is listed in many references as Solanum sarrachoides, and it is apparently under debate whether this is a synonym or a name that should be limited to species in South America. The DNR does not list this species as being present (or persisting) in Minnesota under either name but it is obviously here and we have chosen to follow Michigan Flora and call it S. physalifolium. Hairy Nightshade is similar to Black Nightshade (Solanum ptychanthum), a weedy native that is far more common and easily distinguished by its hairless to sparsely hairy leaves and stems.

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More photos

Photos by K. Chayka and Peter M. Dziuk taken at Long Lake Regional Park, Ramsey County.

Comments

Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?

Posted by: Jared - Harris
on: 2016-08-08 16:30:08

I have Hairy Nightshade growing in groups in pasture in Harris, north of North Branch. Pictures of the fruit are almost always wrong, there is a reason it is called "ground cherry" nightshade. The fruit grows enclosed in a hollow structure, EXACTLY like a ground cherry. It got a late start, and despite pulling plants and 2-3 inches of roots through June and July, I still get plants returning from these roots and developing flowers and fruit (before I pull it again) It grows faster than grasses.

Posted by: K. Chayka
on: 2016-08-08 17:46:13

Jared, perhaps what you have is a different species, maybe Leucophysalis grandiflora

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