Solanum elaeagnifolium

"Notes: Plains , Dry Localities"

General: Nightshade Family (Solanaceae). Solanum elaeagnifolium, is a deep-rooted, native perennial, which rarely reaches a height of more than 3 feet. Silver-leaf nightshade gets its name from the short, white or silvery pubescence (hairs or fuzz) on the leaves and stems. This plant is found throughout Texas. Plants growing in humid regions do not normally have spines or prickles, while those found in arid regions are more commonly prickly. Leaves are alternate and entire. Leaf margins are normally wavy. Flowers are typical of the nightshade family (potatoes, peppers, and tomatoes). Solanum is the genus of the domestic potato.

Solanum dimidiatum (western horse-nettle) is somewhat similar, but does not have the velvety appearance. Vegetatively, Croton capitatus (wooly croton, doveweed, goatweed), resembles silverleaf nightshade, though Croton is never armed. Unlike nightshade, Croton is very intolerant of shade.

whiteweed, trompillo, white horsenettle

"Karnataka: Mysore Tamil Nadu: Coimbatore, Madurai, Theni"

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Global Distribution

Native of Central and South West USA

Indian distribution

State - Kerala, District/s: Palakkad

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Nile region and Sinai.

Native to temperate South America, naturalized in the East Mediterranean region and probably elsewhere.

Solanum obtusifolium M. Martens & Galeotti:
Mexico (Mesoamerica)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Solanum obtusifolium Dunal:
Mexico (Mesoamerica)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Solanum elaeagnifolium var. obtusifolium (Dunal) Dunal:
Chile (South America)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Solanum elaeagnifolium var. leprosum (Ortega) Dunal:
Argentina (South America)
Brazil (South America)
Chile (South America)
Mexico (Mesoamerica)
Uruguay (South America)
United States (North America)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Solanum elaeagnifolium Cav.:
Argentina (South America)
Belize (Mesoamerica)
Brazil (South America)
Chile (South America)
Mexico (Mesoamerica)
Uruguay (South America)
United States (North America)
Caribbean (Caribbean)
South Africa (Africa & Madagascar)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Distribution: Native to temperate Solanum America; naturalised else-where in South Europe, Pakistan, Australia.

United States

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

This species is known from Washington and California to Maryland and Florida. For current distribution, please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site.

A perennial branched herb up to 1 m tall. Stem and branches dense stellate-tomentose, prickly. Prickles sparse, acicular, 2-5 mm long, yellow. Leaves alternate, 1.5-11 x 3.0 cm, ovate-lanceolate to lanceolate, repand-sinuate, base cuneate to oblique. Flowers 1-5 in number, violet-blue to purplish, in extra-axillary cymes. Pedicel up to 20 mm long. Calyx ± 5 mm long deeply 5-lobed, enlarging in fruit. Corolla 20-25 mm broad. Anthers yellow. Filaments 3 mm long. Berry globose, 11-12 mm broad, yellow. Seed subreniform, c. 3 mm long.

Adaptation: Silver-leaf nightshade is found on upland sites and appears to prefer loamy, droughty soils, but is found on virtually all soil types, except for deep sands. It is shade tolerant, becoming quite abundant under trees and beside farm buildings. Because the plant is poisonous and avoided by livestock, it tends to become more prevalent in overgrazed areas.

Fl. Per.: July-August.

The following is a representative barcode sequence, the centroid of all available sequences for this species.

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 1
Specimens with Barcodes: 9
Species With Barcodes: 1

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: N4 - Apparently Secure

Rounded Global Status Rank: G4 - Apparently Secure

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plant’s current status (e.g. threatened or endangered species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

These plant materials are readily available from commercial sources. Contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly Soil Conservation Service) office for more information. Look in the phone book under ”United States Government.” The Natural Resources Conservation Service will be listed under the subheading “Department of Agriculture.”

Caution: Poisonous plant. Like most plants in the nightshade genus, silver-leaf nightshade is poisonous to cattle, but rarely consumed. Solanum is a huge genus with 1,200-1,800 species worldwide, but only 20 are found in Texas (all poisonous). The green portions of its domestic cousin, the potato, are also poisonous. Wildlife value of this plant is minimal.