Weedy Solanum Key


1. Leaves, stems and calyx without prickles or spines.
 2. All leaves entire or very shallowly lobed.
  3. Herb or short-lived small shrub. Berry 6-9 mm across, purple-black to black.
   4. Berry shiny when mature. Seeds 1-1.5 mm long, 40-50 per berry. Stems often angled or winged….*S. americanum (Glossy Nightshade)
   4. Berry dull when mature. Seeds 2 mm long, 25-35 per berry. Stems not angular.................................*S. nigrum (Blackberry Nightshade)
  3. Shrub to 2 m. Berry 10-15 mm across, orange-red.................................................................................*S. pseudocapsicum (Madeira Winter Cherry)
 2. Leaves some or most deeply dissected, some divided into individual leaflets   
   (upper leaves often less deeply lobed or even entire).
  5. Annual or perennial herbs, often sprawling. Berry globular.
   6. Leaves cut deeply, some into individual leaflets. Berry green to purple or red, 10-150 mm across.
    7. Aromatic herb, sticky with gland-tipped hairs. Roots not tuberous. Flowers yellow. Berry red.........*Lycopersicon esculentum (Tomato)
    7. Non-aromatic herb, not sticky and hairs when present not gland-tipped. Roots develop  
      tubers (potatoes). Flowers white, pink to purple. Berry green or purplish........................................*S. tuberosum (Potato)
   6. Leaves shallowly to deeply lobed but not divided into individual leaflets.  
     Berry whitish green, 8-12 mm across.................................................................................................*S. triflorum (Three-flowered Nightshade)
  5. Shrub to 4 m high. Berry egg-shaped. 
   8. Stems often dark purple to black. Tips of petals notched. Berry yellow to orange-yellow……………..*S. laciniatum (Large-flowered Kangaroo Apple)
   8. Stems dark green with raised lines. Tips of petals pointed. Berry orange to red.................................*S. aviculare (Kangaroo Apple)
1.Leaves, stems and calyx with prickles or spines.
 9. Calyx enlarged in fruit and partly or completely enclosing the berry.
  10. Sprawling herb with no large star-shaped hairs. Leaves moderately to deeply lobed
     but not cut into individual leaflets.
   11. Leaves with few or no hairs................................................................................................................*S. hystrix (Afghan Thistle)
   11. Leaves with many simple and gland-tipped hairs..............................................................................S. hoplopetalum (Afghan Thistle)
  10. Erect herb to 1.5 m high. Lower leaves so deeply lobed that they form individual leaflets  
     which in turn may be lobed. Star-shaped hairs and gland-tipped hairs present.
   12. Flowers yellow. Berry black, 10 mm across.......................................................................................*S. rostratum (Buffalo Burr)
   12. Flowers white to pale bluish purple. Berry red, 15-20 mm across.....................................................*S. sisymbriifolium (Viscid Nightshade)
 9. Calyx not or somewhat enlarged in fruit but not enclosing the berry.
  13. Perennial herb. Leaves entire or only shallowly lobed. Spines 2-5 mm long, few, only on stems.
     Berry 8-14 mm across........................................................................................................................*S. elaeagnifolium (Silver-leaved Nightshade)
  13. Shrub. Leaves moderately to deeply lobed. Spines to 10 mm or 15 mm long, common on  
     stems, leaves and calyx. Berry 20-40 mm across.
   14. Leaves dull green to silvery white, mostly 10-12 cm long. Flowers white to very pale
      mauve, 30-40 mm across. Berry 30-40 mm across........................................................................*S. marginatum (White-edged Nightshade)
   14. Leaves dark green, mostly 4-8(10) cm long. Flowers pale purple-blue, 15-30 mm across.  
      Berry 20-35 mm across...................................................................................................................*S. linnaeanum (Apple of Sodom)
             * = Introduced species