Flower ID: IMG_2715.JPG-08-16-2019 Flower name (scientific): Solanum americanum Philip Miller PY: 1768. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) so-LAN-num a-mer-ih-KAY-num Flower name (common): Black Nightshade Family name (common): Potato Family name (scientific): Solanaceae Scientific name origin: Genus: From the Latin solor, solari, solatus for soothe, ease, comfort. A possible reference to the narcotic character of some species. Also, an ancient Latin name used by Pliny the Elder. Specific epithet: From or of America. Common name origin: From the shiny black berries. Nightshade is a compounding of night + shade. There may be an allusion to the berries and other parts of the plant being poisonous or narcotic. The name nightshade is applied to several plants in different genera. Flower description: Size: 0.2 to 0.3 inches (5 to 8 mm) Petal count: 5 Color: white Other: flower arrangement, Cluster-umbel Plant description: Size: 6 to 24 inches (15 to 61 cm) Stem hairy: Other: Leaf description: attachment is alternate, type is simple Size: Leaves up to 10.5 cm long and 4.5 cm wide. Color: Hairy: Other: Shape: leaf, broadly lanceolate, ovate, oval, or oval-deltate (IL) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common Bloom time (typical): June to October Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Annual Habitat: Woodlands, thickets, disturbed areas, roadsides, waste areas, sun or semi-shade. Fruit: Seed: Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): Solanum physalifolium (syn. Solanum sarrachoides ) (Hairy Nightshade) is similar, but has a limited geographic distribution in Wisconsin. S. physalifolium has fairly hairy stems and leaves, whereas S. americanum has stems that are hairless or sparsely hairy and leaves sparsely hairy. Ethnobotany: Latitude: 44.796088 Longitude: -91.501595 Altitude: 268.20 Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Chippewa, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Dunn, Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Iron, Jackson, Jefferson, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Racine, Richland, Rock, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map In US: (AL, AR, AZ, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WI, WV, WY) Click here for distribution map In Canada: (AB, MB, NB, NF, NS, ON, PE, QC, SK) Click here for distribution map References: Synonym(s): Basionym: Homotypic Synonym(s): Heterotypic Synonym(s): Autonym: na Wetland Status (NC): FACU Wetland Status (MW): FACU