Ontario Weeds: Horse-nettle
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Excerpt from Publication 505, Ontario Weeds,
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Table of Contents
- Name
- Other Names
- Family
- General Description
- Stems and Roots
- Flowers and Fruit
- Habitat
- Similar Species
- Related Links
Name: Horse-nettle, Solanum carolinense
L.,
Other Names: morelle de la Caroline,
ortie de la Caroline
Family: Nightshade or Potato Family (Solanaceae)
General Description: Perennial, reproducing
by seed and by underground rhizomes.
![]() Horse-nettle. A. Top of plant. |
![]() B. Portion of horizontal rhizome producing new aboveground shoot. |
Stems & Roots: Stems erect, 60-100cm
(24-40in.) high, with a few branches near the top, covered with
tiny, star-shaped hairs, each having 1 point longer than the rest
(visible only with magnification), and scattered, long, hard, sharp
spines often 5mm (1/5in.) long; leaves alternate (1 per node), elliptic
in outline but shallowly to deeply lobed with 2 to 5 rounded or
sharp-pointed lobes on each side, finely hairy on both surfaces
with star-shaped hairs plus several, long, hard spines, at least
on the underside along the midrib and main veins.
Flowers & Fruit: Flowers arranged
in 1 or more short racemes at the ends and sides of branches in
the upper part, corolla pale purplish to white, 1.5-2cm (3/5-4/5in.)
across, with 5 stamens joined in a central column about 6mm (¼in.)
long; berry smooth, yellow at maturity and about 1.5cm (3/5in.)
in diameter. Flowers from July until autumn.
Habitat: Horse-nettle is found in
scattered localities throughout southern Ontario, usually in sandy
soils, in grainfields, pastureland, waste areas and occasionally
in gardens.
Similar Species: It is distinguished by
its harshly spiny stems and leaves, lobed leaves, large, white to
purplish flowers, smooth yellow berries, and its spreading perennial
rhizomes which enable this plant to form thick patches.
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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