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Solanum dulcamara L.

Bittersweet, bittersweet nightshade, blue bindweed, climbing nightshade

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
SpeciesdulcamaraFrom Latin dulcis, “sweet”; this is Latin for “bittersweet”

About plant names...

Bittersweet nightshade is a native of Eurasia, now wide­spread in North America, bordering on invasive in some areas.

Identification: Bittersweet nightshade is a perennial vine that rarely exceeds 10′ (3 m) in length. The base of the vine is woody, but above-ground portions are not, and die back each year. Leaves are dark green, 2-5″ (5-12 cm) long, oval or heart-shaped, with pointed tips. Sometimes they have three lobes, a larger central one and two smaller side-pointing leaflets. The crushed leaves have a disagreeable odor. Flowers are purple, drooping, with five petals and a central bright yellow cone. They are about ½″ (1.3 cm) in diameter. Often the petals are bent back. Fruits are oval, translucent berries in large clusters, deep red when mature, but yellow or orange while ripening. Each berry is 1/16-¼″ (2-8 mm) in size.

Edibility: Poisonous Skull & Crossbones Contains a substance that "in excess, paralyzes the central nervous system, slows the heart and respiration, and lowers temperature, causing vertigo, delirium, convulsions and death." All parts of the plant should be avoided.

Online References:

Missouriplants.com

Plants for a Future, a resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants

The USDA Forest Service's Fire Effects Information Database

The King County Washington Noxious Weeds list

Wikipedia

Montana Plant Life

Oregon State University

CalPhotos

Illinois Wildflowers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service (PDF)

Solanum dulcamara (bittersweet, bittersweet nightshade, blue bindweed, climbing nightshade)

6/24/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 10 cm)

Solanum dulcamara (bittersweet, bittersweet nightshade, blue bindweed, climbing nightshade)

9/4/2023 · Thorne Head Preserve, Bath, Maine · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm)

Solanum dulcamara (bittersweet, bittersweet nightshade, blue bindweed, climbing nightshade)

8/7/2009 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 14 cm)

Solanum dulcamara (bittersweet, bittersweet nightshade, blue bindweed, climbing nightshade)

9/25/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 9.2 cm)

Solanum dulcamara (bittersweet, bittersweet nightshade, blue bindweed, climbing nightshade)

11/2/2013 · East Point Sanctuary, Biddeford Pool, Maine · ≈ 8 × 6″ (20 × 14 cm)

 

Solanum dulcamara description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 10 Sep 2023.

© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.


 

Solanum dulcamara (bittersweet, bittersweet nightshade, blue bindweed, climbing nightshade)

8/7/2009 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm)

Solanum dulcamara (bittersweet, bittersweet nightshade, blue bindweed, climbing nightshade)

8/4/2009 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 10 cm)

Solanum dulcamara (bittersweet, bittersweet nightshade, blue bindweed, climbing nightshade)

6/4/2013 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm)

Solanum dulcamara (bittersweet, bittersweet nightshade, blue bindweed, climbing nightshade)

9/13/2009 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (23 × 15 cm)

Solanum dulcamara (bittersweet, bittersweet nightshade, blue bindweed, climbing nightshade)

7/21/2013 · Gibbet Hill, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (23 × 16 cm)

Solanum dulcamara (bittersweet, bittersweet nightshade, blue bindweed, climbing nightshade)

8/4/2009 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm)

Solanum dulcamara (bittersweet, bittersweet nightshade, blue bindweed, climbing nightshade)

9/3/2020 · Mitchell Field, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 10 cm)

Solanum dulcamara (bittersweet, bittersweet nightshade, blue bindweed, climbing nightshade)

8/20/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Ayer, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 10 cm)

Range:

About this map...