solanum carolinense - horse nettle
Horse Nettle (Solanum carolinense) is an erect to sprawling, deep-rooted perennial herb that grows from 1 to 3 feet tall and is covered with prickles. The leaves are alternate, ovate, and from 3 to 5 inches in length. The leaves have branched hairs on both the upper and lower surface and a few coarse teeth or shallow lobes on each leaf margin.
The flowers are pale violet to white in color and about 3/4" wide, star-shaped with 5 lobes. They also have long yellow anthers that come from a centrale cone and are borne in a lateral cluster. Flowering occurs from May to September.
The fruits are yellow orange berries about 1/2 inch across and are highly poisonous if eaten.
Although this is a native plant, it is considered to be a stubborn weed that is found in waste areas and gardens throughout the eastern US.
Horse Nettle is also known as Apple-of-Sodom, Bull Nettle, Poisonous Potato, Thorn Apple, and Tread Softly.
The flowers are pale violet to white in color and about 3/4" wide, star-shaped with 5 lobes. They also have long yellow anthers that come from a centrale cone and are borne in a lateral cluster. Flowering occurs from May to September.
The fruits are yellow orange berries about 1/2 inch across and are highly poisonous if eaten.
Although this is a native plant, it is considered to be a stubborn weed that is found in waste areas and gardens throughout the eastern US.
Horse Nettle is also known as Apple-of-Sodom, Bull Nettle, Poisonous Potato, Thorn Apple, and Tread Softly.