*Solanum nigrum

Solanaceae

Black-berry Nightshade

Short-lived perennial herb to 1 m high, prickles absent. Longevity 2 - 5 years.

Flowers: White, March - September.

Fruit: Dull black berry 6 - 8 mm diameter, containing 20 - 35 seeds.

Seed: Dispersed by ingestion by animals e.g. Observed from macropod scats at the Australian Botanic Garden, birds eg Indian Myna see below. Soil stored seedbank.

Gallery images: seed, seedling, rootstock, resprout

Ecology

• Native of Europe.
• Weed of woodland and grassland in full sun.
• Common in woodland at the Australian Botanic Garden.
• Vigorous recruitment from soil stored seed in burnt and unburnt areas after rain.

Recent observations

• Seedlings observed near nest site of Indian Myna, presumably dispersed by them.

Asterisk * indicates exotic species naturalised at the Australian Botanic Garden.