Ontario
Weeds: Climbing nightshade
Table of Contents
- Name
- Other Names
- Family
- General Description
- Stems and Roots
- Flowers and Fruit
- Habitat
- Similar Species
- Caution
- Related Links
Name: Climbing nightshade, Solanum
dulcamara L.,
Other Names: morelle douce-amère,
Bitter nightshade, Bittersweet, Climbing bittersweet, Deadly nightshade,
douce-amère
Family: Nightshade or Potato Family (Solanaceae)
General Description: Perennial, reproducing
by seed and by spreading underground rhizomes.
Photos and Pictures
Climbing nightshade. A. flowering stem
B. stem with green and red berries.
Climbing nightshade.
Stems & Roots: Stems partially
woody, weak, erect or vine-like and climbing over fence lines and
other vegetation, 1-3m (3-10ft) long, usually dying back close to
the ground each year but in milder areas or if protected by snow becoming
thick and woody in the lower part, hairless or short-hairy, with lengthwise-shredding,
light gray bark; leaves alternate (1 per node), simple or lobed with
1 or more lobes near the base giving them a mitten-like appearance
Flowers & Fruit: Flowers in much-branched
clusters; each flower star-shaped with a 5-pointed light blue to violet
or rarely white corolla, in the centre of which is a slender pyramid
of 5 united bright yellow stamens); flowers followed by oblong green
berries 8-12mm (1/3-½in.) long which turn bright red and juicy
when ripe. Flowers in June and July; berries ripening in August and
often remaining on the stems into the winter. Stems, roots, leaves
and sometimes the green berries have a disagreeable civet-cat odour
when bruised.
Habitat: Climbing nightshade occurs
throughout Ontario in open woods, edges of fields, fence lines, roadsides,
and occasionally in hedges and gardens.
Similar Species: It is distinguished by
its vine habit, its shredding light gray back on older stems, its
usually mitten-shaped flowers, its juicy red berries, and its strong
disagreeable odour.
Caution: Stems and leaves are poisonous
to livestock. The attractive, bright red berries have a bitter and
sweet flavour, and, although some people can apparently eat them without
harm, children have reputedly been poisoned by eating them.
Related Links
... on general Weed
topics
... on weed identification, order OMAFRA Publication 505: Ontario Weeds
... on weed control, order OMAFRA Publication 75: Guide To Weed Control
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