Carolina horsenettle
Solanum carolinense
Despite its common name, it is not a true nettle but a member of the nightshade family, making it a cousin to potatoes, tomatoes, and eggplants.
- Scientific name
- Solanum carolinense
- Taxonomy
- Plantae › Tracheophyta › Magnoliopsida › Solanales › Solanaceae › Solanum
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- grassland
- Habitat
- Pastures, agricultural fields, roadsides, and disturbed open ground.
- Diet
- Autotrophic (photosynthetic)
- Range
- North America, Europe, Asia
- Size
- 30 to 100 cm tall
- Lifespan
- Perennial (individual root systems can live for many years)
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Herbicides, intensive agricultural cultivation, and natural forest succession.
- Safe to approach?
- Defensive. Covered in sharp prickles that can cause painful scratches; wear gloves if handling. All parts of the plant, especially the yellow, tomato-like berries, are highly toxic if ingested due to solanine. If consumed, seek immediate medical attention or contact Poison Control. Wash any scratches with soap and water.
Solanum carolinense , the Carolina horsenettle , is not a true nettle, but a member of the Solanaceae, or nightshade family. It is a perennial herbaceous plant, native to the southeastern United States that has spread widely throughout much of temperate North America. It has also been found in parts of Europe, Asia, and Australia. The stem and undersides of larger leaf veins are covered with spines.
Photo: Ted Bodner, Southern Weed Science Society, Bugwood.org, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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