Solanum elaeagnifolium
Solanum pseudocapsicum
horse nettle, silver-leaf nightshade, white horse-nettle
Jerusalem cherry, Jerusalem- or winter-cherry, Jerusalem-cherry nightshade
petiolate;
petiole 1–5 cm;
blade simple, lanceolate to oblong, 5–15 × 0.5–3 cm, margins undulate, subentire to sinuate or shallowly lobed, lobe margins entire, base truncate to cuneate.
petiolate;
petiole 0.2–1 cm;
blade simple, elliptic, 1–9 × 0.5–4.5 cm, margins entire, base acute to attenuate.
extra-axillary, unbranched, 3–5(–7)-flowered, 3–5 cm.
leaf-opposed, unbranched, 1–8-flowered, 0.2–1 cm.
1–3 cm in flower, reflexed and 1–3 cm in fruit.
0.3–0.7 cm in flower, 0.8–1 cm and erect in fruit.
radially symmetric;
calyx not accrescent, unarmed or with sparse prickles, 5–10 mm, densely silvery-stellate-pubescent, lobes linear-lanceolate;
corolla pale to deep blue or violet, rarely white, pentagonal-stellate, 2–3(–3.5) cm diam., with abundant interpetalar tissue;
stamens equal;
anthers narrow and tapered, 6–9 mm, dehiscent by terminal pores;
ovary glabrous to densely stellate-pubescent.
radially symmetric;
calyx somewhat accrescent, unarmed, 2.5–6 mm, glabrous to densely pubescent with dendritic hairs, lobes long-triangular;
corolla white, stellate, 1–1.5(–2.5) cm diam., without interpetalar tissue;
stamens equal;
anthers oblong, 3–4 mm, dehiscent by terminal pores that open into longitudinal slits;
ovary glabrous.
yellow to orange, drying brown or black, globose, 0.5–1.5 cm diam., glabrous, without sclerotic granules.
yellow to orange or red, globose, 1–2 cm diam., glabrous, without sclerotic granules.
yellowish, flattened, 3–5 × 2–4 mm, minutely pitted.
yellowish, flattened with thickened margins, 3–4 × 2.5–3 mm, minutely pitted.
= 24, 48, 72.
= 24.
Solanum elaeagnifolium
Solanum pseudocapsicum
Solanum elaeagnifolium has a disjunct native distribution. It occurs in arid regions of the southwestern United States and Mexico and also in Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay. North American plants are diploid, whereas those in Argentina are diploid, tetraploid, or hexaploid. It is invasive and considered a noxious weed in 21 states in the flora area as well as in many tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. It is toxic to livestock and can form large, rhizomatous patches that are difficult to eradicate.
A white-flowered form has been recognized as Solanum elaeagnifolium forma albiflorum Cockerell.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Solanum pseudocapsicum is native from Mexico to Argentina, southern Brazil, and Uruguay. It is grown as an ornamental for its showy fruits, especially around Christmas. It occasionally escapes from cultivation in southern Florida and Texas. In Texas, it has become established and fairly common in Austin, in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, and in Goliad and Caldwell counties. Cultivated forms are usually glabrous, but some can have branched pubescence. The fruits are mildly poisonous when ingested by humans but can be highly toxic to dogs and some birds.
Solanum pseudocapsicum, along with S. diphyllum, has a distinctive leaf arrangement in which a longer, narrower leaf is paired with a shorter, often more rounded one.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
- Local floras:
CA, 
OR, 
WA - Local Web sites: CalFlora, CalPhotos,
Flora NW, 
IL Wildflowers, 
KS Wildflowers, 
LA Plants, 
MD Biodiversity, 
MO Plants, 
PNW Herbaria 
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist (observations)
USDA Plants Database- LBJ Wildflower Center
- SEINet
- Plants of the World Online
- Encyclopedia of Life
- Wikipedia
- Google Image Search
