Blackberried nightshade
Solanum nigrum

Family: Solanaceae

What it is like

An erect branched smooth herb. It grows about 60-100 cm high. The stems are green and 3 angled. Leaves are pointed at both ends. The leaves are 1.3-9 cm long by 0.5-6 cm wide. They are oblong and taper to the tip. They can have wavy lobes. The inner ring of petals are white and about 8 mm across. The fruit are black, smooth and round. They hang downwards. Some people claim it is possibly now Solanum americanum. The difference seem to be about how shiny the fruit are!

There are about 1400 Solanum species. Demo Chemical composition (fruit, Chinese sample): Protein = 2.51%. Fat = 0.56%. Carbohydrate = 5.66%. Ash 1.19%. Leaves may contain a toxic element. Seeds may be above-average for angiospermous plants in the amino acids Alanine, Phenylalanine, and Threonine. In The Plant List it has this as a synonym of Solanum americanum. It is high in proVitamin A.

Where it is found

It is a temperate and tropical climate plant. They occur in waste places at low and medium altitudes throughout the country. It grows from sea level up to high altitudes such as 2700 m in the tropics. It often comes up self sown after fires. It is grown in most tropical countries as a green leafy vegetable. It occurs between 600-3000 m in southern China. In Nepal it grows to about 2900 m altitude. It can grow in areas with an annual rainfall below 500 mm. It can grow in arid places. Tasmania Herbarium. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Africa, Angola, Asia, Australia, Austria, Balearic Islands, Balkans, Bangladesh, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia, Botswana, Britain, British Indian Ocean Terr., BIOT, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central Africa, Central America, Central Asia, Chad, Chile, China, Christmas Island, Colombia, Congo DR, Corsica, Costa Rica, Crete, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, East Africa, East Timor, Easter Island, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Europe, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Great Britain, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Himalayas, Hungary, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lesotho, Libya, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mediterranean, Mexico, Middle East, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, North Africa, Northeastern India, Norway, North America, Northeastern India, NW India, Oman, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Sardinia, Saudi Arabia, Scandinavia, SE Asia, Senegal, Sicily, Sierra Leone, Sikkim, Slovakia, Socotra, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, South Sudan, Spain, Sri Lanka, St Helena, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tasmania, Thailand, The Netherlands, Tibet, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey, Türkiye, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, UAE, USA, Vanuatu, Vietnam, West Africa, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are cooked and eaten. They are also used for soup. They can be stewed or made into pies, jams, preserves, puddings, sauces, pastry and a spicy relish. They are also used for chutney. Ripe fruit are eaten raw. The leaves and young shoots and flowers are eaten cooked. They should be BOILED. The harvested leaves can be stored for 2-3 days. CAUTION: The fruit can contain the alkaloid Solanine probably when unripe. This gets destroyed with boiling.

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. It is a significant food plant throughout the tropics. A commonly used green vegetable in most areas of Papua New Guinea. It mostly grows wild in the highlands and is cultivated on the coast. Leaves are sold in local markets. The ripe fruit are eaten by children.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves, vegetable, flowers

How it is grown

It is grown from seed. In the tropical highlands areas it is almost always self sown or encouraged by burning grassland but then weeded and harvested as a normal component of the garden. In coastal areas seeds are sown by broadcasting. Good yields can be obtained under moderate fertility levels. A spacing of 40 cm x 40 cm is suitable. Topping encourages branching. It can be grown from cuttings. Plants are also grown in nurseries and transplanting.

Seeds germinate about a week after planting. Leaves can be harvested after about 8-10 weeks by cutting off the last 5 cm of each branch. High yields can be obtained. 5-8 harvests over 6-8 weeks are possible. Solanum nigrum grows rapidly, has high seed production and high viability of seed. This gives it a competitiveness as a weedy species but also means it is one of the first harvested edible greens from a new garden.

Its other names

Local names

Achigoy, Alei, Anamamy dia, Amamamy gasy, Aneb-eddib, Anhling, Anjou, Anjouche, Anjouteh, Awut, Baung-laung-nyo, Bhomolan, Bihi, Budhi ki cheer, Bulbul, Buru diang, Cambe-tamtar, Can den, Changachanga, Chaw, Cheekhruf, Chicharti, Djagato-foro, Ecevlusu, Ensugga enzirugavu, Enswiga, Entakara, Enyorotin, Faysuk, Func'a, Gai ge liu, Gajju chettu, Ganagasopu, Ganga thwfa, Garden huckleberry, Ghati, Giritotu, Gurkamai, Gyi-lee, Hangrani kimkhalai, Heilaopo, He le, Hepisokran, Hor, Hora, Howr-ow, Hundha, Imoato, Inafu, Istifno, Jungali bihi, Kabaiya, Kachchipundu, Kachi, Kachmach, Kachmachu, Kakamachi, Kakmachi, Kakmorich, Kali gedi, Kaligeri, Kalo bihi, Kalobihisag, Kalokamai, Kalo sag, Kalukanberiya, Kamain, Kamanchi, Kambei, Kamoni, Kamuni, Kanguni, Karalkamuni, Karmach, Katmanya, Kawat, Kelampong puyuh, Ker ker, Khalarkoi, Kkamajung, Khatmalu, Khwazebai, Kobai, Koiyan, Kolow, Kopekdomatesi, Ksoiyo, Ku li ba sa, Lere, Leunca, Lisutsa, Long kui, Longkai, Los kochi, Lubi-lubi, Lu lu duc, Magalo, Makai, Makao, Mako, Makoi, Makoy, Malgebai, Manaku, Manathakkali, Manattakkali, Mbiti, Mbutiyin, Mnadzi, Mnavu, Mnesi, Morok maan, Morokpan, Msaka, Msobo, Mudungachapu, Muk-nok, Munatakali, Musungusungu, Mwisung, Nagadyu, Ndulwe, Ngoua, Ninauni, Nkwila, Ociga, Ocokocok, Ocuga, Ocugocuga, Ohuphirapro, Olmomoi, Oro'utu, Osuga, Pa ding, Pako ansua, Papie, Pengo, Phak did nam, Pharchingki, Pichkati, Piludi, Pomocnica crna, Pucuk lumai, Putibegun, Qaqaha, Ranti, Raupeti, Riaungi, Sara korpo, Shanboksiiye, Shogoji kidowe, Styfnos, Suanjiang, Sudagur, Sukitty, Suludjato, Sunberry, Taire kamagi, Tarlauzumcugu, Taujamai, Tekire, Terong meranti, Terong perat, Thotho, Tsepa, Tsepo, Tsepoo, Tsigma, Tulidun, Tunaye, Ujim, Umsobo omhlophe, Umsobosobo, Uzumcuk, Vocherok a-an, Wo lun, Wonderberry, Xaxadi, Xu'naayye, Zherlig ujim

Synonyms

Solanum decipiens Opiz; Solanum schultesii Opiz; Many - see World Flora Online