Solanum nigrum L.
Solanum nigrum L.
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Solanum acutifolium Kit.
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Solanum aegyptiacum Forsk.
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Solanum aguaraquiya Piso
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Solanum aguaraquiya Piso ex Sendtn.
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Solanum arenarium Schur
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Solanum asperum Hornem.
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Solanum asperum Hornem. ex Walp.
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Solanum astroites Forst.fil.
Solanum nigrum L., is often a blanket name to cover Solanum villosum Mill. and S. grossidentatum A. Rich., and with other related species forms a complex group : the taxonomy of this group is still far from clear. Solanum villosum Mill., is being treated here separately while Solanum grossidentatum is being considered as synonomy of Solanum nigrum.
An annual, glabrescent or pilose, 0.6-1.5 m tall, branched herb. Petiole 1-4 cm. Leaves 10 x 7 cm, ovate, elliptic or lanceolate, entire to broadly and irregularly dentate, glabrescent or young leaves covered with uniseriate, glandular or eglandular hairs on both sides, acute, at base tapering and decurrent into petiole. Cymes pedunculate, lax, 4-10-flowered. Peduncle 1-3 cm long. Pedicel 0.5-1.5 cm long, reflexed in fruit. Calyx c. 2 mm long, lobes obtuse. Corolla 5-7 mm long, white to lilac or purplish, petals clavate hairy on the margin and along the median line outside, lobes lanceolate, acute. Anthers 1-2.5 mm long, oblong, yellowish. Ovary globose; style c. 3 mm long, densely hairy below, recurved above; stigma capitate. Berry usually wider than long, glabrous, purplish / black, 6-8 mm in diameter. Seeds many, 1.7-2.4 mm long, brownish, flat, obovate, rugose.