Herbs, annual, erect to decumbent, unarmed, to 1 m, moderately to densely pubes­cent, hairs unbranched, to 2 mm, glandular. Leaves petio­late; petiole 0.5–3 cm; blade simple, ovate to elliptic, 3–7.5 × 3–6 cm, margins entire to sinuate-dentate, base truncate to cordate. Inflorescences leaf-opposed or occasionally extra-axillary, unbranched, umbel-like, 2–5(–7)-flowered, 0.5–1.5 cm. Pedicels 0.5–1 cm in flower and fruit, spreading in flower, reflexed in fruit. Flowers radially symmetric; calyx accrescent and nearly covering berry, unarmed, 2–3 mm, sparsely to mod­erately pubescent, lobes narrowly triangular; corolla white with yellowish or greenish central star, rotate-stellate, 0.5–1 cm diam., with abundant interpetalar tissue; stamens equal; anthers ellipsoidal, 1.2–2 mm, dehiscent by terminal pores that open into longitudinal slits; ovary glabrous. Berries dull pale green, globose, 0.5–1 cm diam., glabrous, with 4–6 sclerotic granules. Seeds pale yellow, flattened, 1.5–2 × 1–1.5 mm, nearly smooth. 2n = 24.

Phenology: Flowering May–Oct.
Habitat: Farmyards, fields, open wood­lands, roadsides, disturbed areas.
Elevation: 0–500 m.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Introduced; Ark., Conn., Fla., Ill., Kans., Md., Mo., N.C., Okla., R.I., S.C., Va., Wash., s South America (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay), introduced also in Europe, Africa (South Africa).

Discussion

Many accounts of Solanum sarrachoides in North America actually refer either to S. nitidibaccatum or to a mixture of the two species. In North America, S. sarrachoides is much less widespread and common than S. nitidibaccatum.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.