''Solanum physalifolium'', known as hoe nightshade, Argentine nightshade, green nightshade and hairy nightshade, is a species in the family

Solanaceae The Solanaceae , or nightshades, are a family of flowering plants that ranges from annual and perennial herbs to vines, lianas, epiphytes, shrubs, and trees, and includes a number of agricultural crops, medicinal plants, spices, weeds, and orn ...

(the nightshade family). Native to

Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ...

Bolivia , image_flag = Bandera de Bolivia (Estado).svg , flag_alt = Horizontal tricolor (red, yellow, and green from top to bottom) with the coat of arms of Bolivia in the center , flag_alt2 = 7 × 7 square p ...

and

Chile Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in the western part of South America. It is the southernmost country in the world, and the closest to Antarctica, occupying a long and narrow strip of land between the Andes to the east a ...

, it is widely naturalized in Australia, New Zealand, Europe, western Canada and the north western United States. ''Solanum physalifolium'' has been widely but incorrectly known as ''

Solanum sarrachoides ''Solanum sarrachoides'' is a species of South American nightshade known as the hairy nightshade or leafy-fruited nightshade. The scientific name ''Solanum sarrachoides'' was long misused for a different species, '' Solanum physalifolium'', by ...

'', a different species. It has been listed as a noxious weed in the US states of Kansas and Michigan under this misapplied name. Two varieties have been recognized: * ''Solanum physalifolium'' var. ''nitidibaccatum'' (Bitter) Edmonds,

syn. The Botanical and Zoological Codes of nomenclature treat the concept of synonymy differently. * In botanical nomenclature, a synonym is a scientific name that applies to a taxon that (now) goes by a different scientific name. For example, Linnae ...

''S. nitidibaccatum'' Bitter * ''Solanum physalifolium'' var. ''physalifolium''

Description

''Solanum physalifolium'' is an annual

herbaceous plant Herbaceous plants are vascular plants that have no persistent woody stems above ground. This broad category of plants includes many perennials, and nearly all annuals and biennials. Definitions of "herb" and "herbaceous" The fourth edition of t ...

growing from a taproot. It reaches a height of . There are no leaves at the base of the stem. The leaves along the stem are ovoid to deltoid (egg-shaped to triangular), long by across. The leaf margins are variable and may be toothed, untoothed or wavy. Both the stems and leaves have soft hairs, often somewhat sticky. The flowers are arranged in small clusters and have white to pale blue

petal Petals are modified Leaf, leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They are often advertising coloration, brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. All of the petals of a flower are collectively known as the ''c ...

s, each wide with lobes that are angled outwards or backwards. The

sepal A sepal () is a part of the flower of angiosperms (flowering plants). Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom., p. 106 The term ''sepalum'' was coined b ...

s form a cup around the fruit, which is a yellowish globular

berry A berry is a small, pulpy, and often edible fruit. Typically, berries are juicy, rounded, brightly colored, sweet, sour or tart, and do not have a stone or pit, although many pips or seeds may be present. Common examples are strawberries, raspb ...

about in diameter.

References

physalifolium {{Solanales-stub