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Solanum carolinense L.

Carolina horsenettle, horsenettle

KingdomPlantaePlants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
SubkingdomTracheobiontaVascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
DivisionMagnoliophytaFlowering plants, also known as angiosperms
ClassMagnoliopsidaDicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
SubclassAsteridaeA large class that encompasses asters
OrderSolanalesPotatoes, eggplants, tomatoes, peppers, tobacco, petunias, sweet potatoes, morning glories, many others
FamilySolanaceaeNightshade or potato family
GenusSolanum“Quieting,” for the narcotic effect of some species
Speciescarolinense“Of or from the Carolinas”

About plant names...

Carolina horsenettle is a North American native, considered an invasive in many southern habitats.

Identification: Plants are up to 3′ (1 m) tall, with round, hairy, spiny stems that become a bit woody with age. Leaves are alternate, on petioles (stems) up to ¾″ (2 cm) long. They are elliptic-oblong to ovate. Smaller leaves are unlobed, while larger ones are often lobed, vaguely resembling oak leaves. They are up to 8″ (20 cm) × 2½″ (7 cm), and emit a potato-like odor when crushed. Flowers appear in small racemes at angles to the main stem. The racemes lengthen when the flowers begin producing fruit. Each flower is white to lilac to purple in color, a five-pointed star, with five yellow stamens like a miniature bunch of bananas in the center. They appear from May to October. Berries are green when immature, streaked with different shades of green, turning yellow when mature.

Online References:

Missouriplants.com

Illinois Wildflowers

Discover Life

Wikimedia Commons

Luirig.altervista.org

The Bugwood Wiki

The Connecticut Botanical Society's Connecticut wildflowers site

Invasive.org, Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health

Solanum carolinense (Carolina horsenettle, horsenettle)

7/21/2013 · Gibbet Hill, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 15 cm)

Solanum carolinense (Carolina horsenettle, horsenettle)

6/13/2011 · Alexandria, Virginia · ≈ 4 × 6″ (10 × 15 cm)

Solanum carolinense (Carolina horsenettle, horsenettle)

6/13/2011 · Alexandria, Virginia · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm)

Solanum carolinense (Carolina horsenettle, horsenettle)

7/7/2012 · Gibbet Hill, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 4½ × 3″ (11 × 7.9 cm)

 

Solanum carolinense description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.

© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.


 

Solanum carolinense (Carolina horsenettle, horsenettle)

6/13/2011 · Alexandria, Virginia · ≈ 6 × 9″ (14 × 22 cm)

Solanum carolinense (Carolina horsenettle, horsenettle)

10/2/2010 · Near Huckleberry Ridge State Forest, Greenville/Orange, New York · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 13 cm)

Solanum carolinense (Carolina horsenettle, horsenettle)

7/21/2013 · Gibbet Hill, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 11 × 7″ (28 × 18 cm)

Solanum carolinense (Carolina horsenettle, horsenettle)

7/21/2013 · Gibbet Hill, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 15 cm)

Solanum carolinense (Carolina horsenettle, horsenettle)

7/27/2016 · Michaux State Forest, Caledonia State Park, Fayetteville, Penn­syl­vania

Solanum carolinense (Carolina horsenettle, horsenettle)

6/13/2011 · Alexandria, Virginia · ≈ 3 × 4½″ (7.9 × 11 cm)

Solanum carolinense (Carolina horsenettle, horsenettle)

6/13/2011 · Alexandria, Virginia · ≈ 3½ × 5″ (9.2 × 13 cm)

Solanum carolinense (Carolina horsenettle, horsenettle)

7/7/2012 · Gibbet Hill, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm)

Range:

About this map...