Looks like “wonderberries” (there’s marketing for you!) Two lessons here. Very tasty…. It grows to a maximum height of 1.2 m and has white/pale blue flowers borne in bunches. This herb is often confused with the ‘deadly nightshade,’ Atropa belladonna, which belongs to another genus. I have no idea where it came from :). However, this hasn’t deterred humans to try its edible strain all over the world. The leaves contain about 6990mg of beta carotene per 100g. I think I just pulled a bunch of this out today. There are probably enough plants called Black Nightshade that you should be very careful which one you have. Solanum nigrum has various other names such as black nightshade, Indian nightshade, European black nightshade solanum, garden huckleberry, Kakamachi, duscle, wonder berry, petty morel and hound’s berry. His experience was not what he was expecting after eating soup. A recipe that takes two weeks–amazing! It was used as spinach, though with a bitter and strong flavour and suitable for eating only after boiling for hours. Your Guide to Self-Sufficient Living in the Heart of the City, Radical Home Ec for a Post-Consumer World, Nasturtium Flower and Pistachio Pesto: a story in pictures, Wild Food Lab: Foraging Taken to the Next Level, 087 Foraging Controversy with Lisa Novick, From the Archives: That Time Kelly Accidentally Ate Hemlock. Black nightshades of the Solanum nigrum complex have simple, alternate leaves that are roughly triangular or diamond-shaped, lobed or wavy-margined, and often bug-eaten. Am from South africa and my grannies used to cook jam with the ripe berries. Black Nightshade is a plant. Solanum nigrum Description Popular name(s): Black Nightshade, Hound's Berry, Petty Morel Botanical name: Solanum nigrum Family: Solanaceae Origin: Asia, Europe, North Africa Edible… Consumption of raw berries can cause vomiting, fever, diarrhoea, mild stomach pains and sometimes, even death in children, when ingested in a large amount, due to cardiac arrhythmia and respiratory failure. The term nightshade is often associated with poisonous species, though the genus also contains a number of economically important food crops, including tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), When the plant is mature the leaves look rather like tomato leaves. Wow, I am so glad you posted this. I have this in my garden and have been plucking the ripe berries each alternate day i see. It can be found easily in disturbed habitats. My husband thought it was a tiny tomato :), but after some research we found just what you say here that it’s a member of the nightshade family (like tomato and potato), is not poisonous, and tastes a bit like tomato. Thanks for sharing. This is one of the most popular vegetables of Asia and Southern Europe yet here in North America it is lumped in with its much more poisonous family members such as belladonna. Not all Solanum species have edible berries, even when ripe. We had some pop up in the garden a few years ago. Black nightshade is a plant. Black Nightshade berries are only edible when ripe. S. nigrum or black nightshade is native to Eurasia and introduced in the Americas, Australasia, and South Africa. They consistently report solanum toxins to be present in these plants, including S. nigrum. When the plant is soft and the water has turned a dark, but still translucent, green, it’s done cooking. I’ve even read they they are superior tasting to the Black Night Shade…If that’s the case, STAY AWAY because the wonderberries are not wonderful! It grows in a temperate climate It grows up to One Meter. The Homeopathic medicine , Solanum Nigrum is best used to treat : Black discoloration of parts. Now I am wondering if he is confused about which plant he cooked or if he ate too much and got a little sick? People all around the world eat Solanum nigrum. What we do is pick the plant, leaves and stem only, then wash them. He says the cooking twice a day was to kill bacteria. Black Nightshade leaves and stems are also toxic when raw (they are edible when cooked properly, and in some parts of the world are considered a staple vegetable, but that is a … A local restaurateur told me his wife puts the leaves in soups. Based on my experience Black Nightshade (Solanum nigrum) is definetely *NOT* Edible, My father suffering from leaver cancer in advance stage some body tell me to use the solanum nigrum leave to eat and the boil water can use it. They grew up in Taiwan, and as kids they would pick the ripe berries and eat them (they grew up in the countryside). Another common and tasty edible wild plant is black nightshade (Solanum nigrum). Welcome. It was funny that it just popped up. The leaves are boiled in salt water for hours before consumption. This herb grows as a perennial but is short-lived. They taste well and i am live, posting image. Under cultivation leaves and stem tops are regularly harvested. Unripe (green) fruit of Solanum nigrum does contain solanine and should be avoided, but the ripe fruit is perfectly edible and quite delicious. Much of the confusion surrounding Solanum nigrum is caused by “experts” confusing it with Atropa belladonna due to the similarity between both the appearance of the plant and the popular names. It is perennial. Maybe it’ll pop up again next year…. I found this plant in my garden and was always wondering whether the fruits are edible. Do you ever eat the leaves? The two plants are very commonly confused. The potted plant below the sign was Solanum nigrum not Atropa belladonna. Green berries contain the toxic alkaloid, solanum, like the foliage. When I lived in Wyoming, Huckleberries (they looked like the Solanum melanocerasum offered in seed catalogs) grew wild and were picked and made into pies. One must be careful when using the popular names for plants! The renowned ecologist and botanist, Edward Salisbury suggested that the plant, Solanum nigrum was a native to ancient Britain even before Neolithic agriculture. The flowers are usually green or white with bright yellow anthers. They love to dip those on hot souce, or crush the raw berries mixed with other ingredient and eat raw too. The taste of the liquid and plant will have a slight bitter taste, its taste absolutely wonderful with some white rice. The leaves are also edible and may be prepared as a vegetable green on their own or added to soup and stews. Leaves alternate on the stem and have wavy edges. Oh if only you had posted this two weeks ago! The plants are lovely, with the small white flowers, beautiful green berries and ripe black ones occurring at the same time. Black nightshade is a common herb or short-lived perennial shrub, found in many wooded areas, as well as disturbed habitats. I’ve got some that came up out of the compost. Hi, I just wanted to say that my boyfriend is Guatemalan and he makes soup made from solanum nigrum, in spanish the plant is called yerba mora. The thing is, the last time he ate the soup, he said he started feeling weird and saw things and heard things that werent there, he told me this story before I knew exactly what plant he was talking about. I understand that this is called “Kashi Soppu” in our part of the world i.e. Solanum nigrum also contains a glycoalkaloid steroid-solasodine that can be propagated via roots of the plant. I believe this plant to be misunderstood, as was its originally-feared cousin in the nightshade family, the tomato. Fruit is a ¼ to 1/3-inch round berry that ripens to shiny black. My mother and my sister eat both the green/raw fruits and leaves. Black Nightshade (Solanum nigrum) is an annual/ short-lived perennial herb. Prepare some water with a pinch of salt, heat the water and keep it at a simmer. When I did some research, everything I found said that it IS poisonous! Make an ongoing pledge: Some of them have more jagged edges leaves, not smooth like the poisonous variety, but some have smooth leaves. I will make sure tomorrow and have our extention agent look at it for me. Allergies to nightshade plants are considered very rare. The composition of 100 g edible portion of “African” nightshade leaves (I presume S. nigrum) is water 87.8 g, 39 calories, protein 3.2 g, fat 1g, carbs 6.4 g, fiber 2.2 g, calcium 200 mg, potassium 54 mg, iron 0.3 mg, beta carotene 3.7 mg, ascorbic acid 24 mg. The second lesson is the importance of using scientific not popular names when describing plants. In India, the plant has become naturalised and found all over in the temperate regions. I moved away from home and cannot find any to eat I crave it soo much! We’re always learning, figuring stuff out, taking advantage of the enormous smarts of our friends and our on-line community, and trying to give some of that back in turn. In Ethiopia, the ripe berries are also a common food in famine-affected areas and consumed as-is. I’ve eaten the leave my whole life and I am still here today. The dry matter content varies from 6–18 % depending on plant age, soil moisture and … Black nightshade (S. nigrum) is found along the Pacific coast. “Black nightshade,” Solanum nigrum, on the other hand, is edible. But Pascal left a link to an excellent article by author and forager Sam Thayer that puts in the nail in the coffin of the myth that Solanum nigrum is poisonous. Originally, black nightshade was called “petit (small) morel” to distinguish it from the more poisonous species, deadly nightshade, that is known as “great morel.” I’ve never tried the leaves. Solanums poison many many grazing cattle every year. Eastern black nightshade is a native annual nightshade found in forests, swamps and beaches. I almost ripped out the plant because I have small children and so do all my friends. Our friend above and below, Solanum nigrum, black nightshade, is edible. We have a ton of it growing in ourTomato bed right now; I’ll have to harvest the ripe berries and make a dessert!!! My parents eat the leaf of the plant and I grew up eating it! The majority of nightshade plants, especially the edible varieties, can be touched safely and won’t cause any problems. The stem can be slightly hairy or on occasions hairless. Bakula – An Indian Tree with Interesting Properties(Mimusops elengi), Inside The National Rose Garden Delhi – India, Norfolk Island Pine – How to Care Indoor Norfolk Island Pine Tree, 16 Types of Summer Flowers in India – With Pictures, Botanical Garden Kolkata – Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose( India ), Your Handy Guide to Parlor Palm Plant Care: Palm Plants. Are you kidding me?? American Black Nightshade berries and leaves are traditionally eaten by Native Americans as well as modern cultures in Central American communities. Solanum is a large and diverse genus of flowering plants, which include three food crops of high economic importance, the potato, the tomato and the eggplant (aubergine, brinjal). It is also harmful to livestock. The ripe fruit and cooked leaves are edible, however, some parts of the plants are poisonous and can cause serious damage to humans and cattle. I just took exactly that into Armstrong and they told me it was poisonous so I pulled it up. Many scientific studies have been made into the toxin content of Solanum nigrum and related plants. Black Nightshade leaves are poisonous unless properly prepared. And remember that "the dosage makes the poison". Its fruit is called berry, which is small and shiny. I wonder what the defining differences are between the two. We were always told to stay away from the green berries as it caused vomiting and diarrhea , and the indigenous people ccoked the leaf tips as a vegetable but it was bitter and felt slimey like snot. . But now I’m unsure of whether we have: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solanum_americanum, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solanum_nigrum. As for the toxicity, Deadly Nightshade (Atropa Belladonna) berries are HIGHLY toxic in all forms, whereas Black Nightshade (Solanum Nigrum) can be toxic when they are green, and unripe, the level of toxicity can depend on the soil it is growing in, and the berries, when ripe are black, and are edible. I have this in my horse pasture I tasted a berry today and it was very sweet and was like a Blue Berry. Wow, that article looks super helpful–thanks! They are OK, but not particularly tasty. Simmer the plant for 3 to 5 minutes. However, certain poisonous varieties, such as black henbane, mandrake, and deadly belladonna, can cause skin irritation and rashes when touched. Some member of this family have a reputation for being edible cooked, but not raw, too. We have this growing in our balcony garden (no idea where it came from). If it didn’t try to grow in all the best spots I’d leave it for garden snacking. The flowers tend to curve from the edges with the time. It also contains the nightshades and horse nettles, as well as numerous plants cultivated for their ornamental flowers and fruit. we all have our different tastes, I like native gooseberries but most everyone i share them with are disgusted. Seems like it could substitute for spinach. I found the exact photos of the plant. In the 15th-century China, it was recorded as a famine food despite its toxicity level. In parts of the US Solanum nigrum berries are made into pies. woe is me. It was used in times of food shortage by native tribes. Butea Monosperma or Palash: Flower Tree Types & Meaning, HEALTH BENEFITS OF TEA FLOWERS AND MINDFULNESS EXERCISES, Bamboo Flowers: Plant & Species Understanding, Ornamental Plants and Flowers: Names & Pictures, Kurinji Flower – An Overview about Neelakurinji, 5 Best Low Light Indoor Plants for your Apartment. ahh dammit. Its flower and fruit look just like that of small eggplant/aubergine. In the article I linked to, Thayer says that black nightshade greens could be the most widely eaten greens in the world. Bangalore, Karnataka, India and has medicinal properties. It belongs to Solanaceae family. Created by ArenaFlowers, India. It has tiny seeds inside just like blue berries. The plant most commonly referred to as “deadly nightshade,” is Atropa belladonna, which is a highly unpleasant and toxic hallucinogen. Eaten as a fruit or vegetable, the fruit can also be dried, ground into a powder and used with cereals for making bread etc. Leaf shapes are similar. Root Simple is a gathering place for everyone. A Chinese research has established that the plant has anti-carcinogenic properties and it successfully inhibited the growth of cervical carcinoma in mice. are Solanum burbankii, not Solanum nigrum. It just came up in my garden – no idea where from. Make a one time donation: Join the Democratic Socialists of America! Indian cuisine, for example, utilizes the young leaves and stems through a process of sequential treatment with boiling water. Caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity. Here in Nagaland, North East India, it is a much sought after vegetable…from what i can tell from looking at online pics the ones we eat are the Solanum trilobatum and Solanum sodomeum, we call the small berries Likok, while the larger varieties are called Taku(meaning bitter) we prefer it to be as bitter as possible so unripened ones are cooked or made into pickles and chutneys. I’ll have to sit down and look carefully at what we have. Oddly, many westerners continue to suggest that the greens are poisonous despite the fact that you can buy them in markets all over Asia and Central America. In the article I linked to, Thayer says that black nightshade greens could be the most widely eaten greens in the world. Young leaves and new shoots - raw or cooked as a potherb or added to soups [2, 27, 85, 89, 173, 179, 183]. The berries were not ripe yet, but everything else looks exactly the same. It was also recorded in the deposit of Mesolithic and Paleolithic era. Remember that tomatoes were long thought poisonous, in part due to similarities in appearance to Atropa belladonna, and associations with witchcraft. I have eaten a leaf from the Solanum Nigrum.I would not recommend anyone to do this.The stomach cramping and purgatory action will last for days.The black berries are sooo good though. Hairy nightshade leaves are covered with fine hairs, whereas eastern black nightshade leaves have only a few hairs. According to Chinese herbal medicine, the whole plant is edible and good to our body and health. I personally never tried it. In Ayurveda, the ancient science of medicine, use the plant to treat chronic ailments too like liver diseases, dental cavities, headache, rodent bites, fever, splenomegaly and vitiligo. Why the process took two weeks he cannot explain but says is the best thing he has ever eaten. Ethnic/Cultural Info The berries and the leaves of the Black Nightshade plant were a crucial food source and an important natural medicine for early Native American tribes including the Cherokee, Iroquois and Costanoan Indians. The black nightshades are sprawling plants whose foliage and flowers evoke that of potatoes or tomatoes, but the leaves are simple rather than compound. I don’t recommend eating it raw. Hmmm… only found out the name of this vegetable last month so decided to look it up. The oval or heart-shaped leaves are long and wide. It has tips on distinguishing the two. 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