Black nightshade

(Solanum nigrum)
(Variations: S. americanum, S. douglasii , S. ptychanthum)

Black Nightshade species have endured a long and storied history in this country. It is recommended throughout much of the rest of the world as a food crop. In this country however, it is often lumped in with Atropa belladonna, commonly called deadly nightshade. While they are both members of the Solanaceae family, they do not however share the same genus.

It now seems that Taxonomists, the scientists who classify all living things, have decided to break apart plants that were originally classified Solanum nigrum, into multiple species. S. americanum, S. douglasii, and S. ptychanthum, all used to be classified under the name of S. nigrum. Many authors today refer to the all closely related black nightshade species as the Solanum nigrum complex. These species are so similar that they are almost impossible to tell apart. This might be one of the reasons that you can read one book that lists the fruit as edible, and another book will tell you the fruit is toxic. With all of this confusion it is no wonder many foragers decide to forgo the delicious fruit of this much maligned plant. I have eaten the fruit from this plant since I was a teenager. That is over 40 years of consumption without issue.

Other Names:
American black nightshade, blackberry nightshade, eastern black nightshade, european black nightshade, glossy nightshade, greenspot nightshade, small flowered nightshade,

Range:


Family:
Solanaceae - Nightshade Family

Growth Type:
An Herbaceous annual plant

Height:
Usually grows between 12 to 48 inches tall

Leaves:
The leaves are typically 1.5 to 3 inches in length, and 1 to 2 inches wide. The leaves are ovate to heart shaped and the leaf margins can range from wavy to bluntly toothed. The leaf surfaces can be pubescent (hairy) or glabrous (hairless). The petiole (leaf stem) is pubescent and can be up to an inch long.

Stem/Trunk:
Herbaceous, multi-branched pubescent stems

Root:
Fibrous root mass

Flower Season:
The plant can flower throughout its growing season.

Flower Appearance:
The flowers petals are white to greenish-white. The center of the flower is a prominent bright yellow anther.

Seed/Fruit:
The round 1/2 to 1/3 inch fruit grows in small clusters. They are green when young, and ripen to a deep blue-black. It is quite common to see flowers, green fruit, and black fruit at the same time.

Miscellaneous characteristics:
N/A

Habitat:
This plant grows in woodlands, waste areas, and recently cultivated fields.

Parts Used:
Ripe Fruit

Culinary Uses:
The ripe fruit can be eaten fresh from the plant. The fruit tastes like a tomato. It can also be harvested and cooked in a simple syrup to make a jam. Commercial pectin must be added to thicken the jam. The ripe fruit can also be baked into pies, crisps, and cobblers.

I have never found the fruit of black nightshade to be toxic. However, because the fruit is listed in so many references as being toxic, I would suggest that for your peace of mind, you use the Universal Edibility Test to ensure you do not have a reaction to the fruit.

Medicinal Uses:
While S. nigrum has a long history of medicinal use it has fallen out of favor with modern herbalists. I feel this is probably due to the erroneous belief that this plant holds the same toxicity as Atropa belladonna. Due to its high vitamin C content S. nigrum is used to prevent or treat scurvy. It is also used medicinally to attack free radicals, reduce inflammation, protect the liver, lower cholesterol, and as a cough suppressant.

In Ayurveda it is used to treat Colicky pain, Eczema, Edema, Fever, Hemorrhoids, Itching, skin conditions like scabies ringworm and vitiligo, Hepatomegaly (enlarged liver), Splenomegaly (enlarged spleen).

Medicinal Actions:
Alterative, Analgesic, Anhidrotic, Anti-Inflammatory, Antilithic, Antioxidant, Antiscorbutic, Choleretic, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Expectorant