Solanum triflorum, commonly known as cutleaf nightshade, is a native annual herb to most of the United States including New Mexico. The flower produced is often white, but sometimes purple tinted that then transforms into a small berry.
Cutleaf nightshade is in the family Solanaceae and the genus Solanum. This plant can reach up to 2 feet high and the 2-5cm long leaves have jagged edges. The plant color can be dull to light green and white (sometimes purple-tinted) flowers with yellow centers begin to show in the fall. The flowers will turn into a small green fruit that can have lightened vertical stripe coloration.
Cutleaf nightshade is native to most of the United States. In New Mexico, cutleaf nightshade is commonly found in many counties. It grows in multiple types of habitats but normally found in disturbed areas. Cutleaf nightshade is an annual that likes to be in sunny areas. Some birds will eat the fruit.
According to the Native American Ethnobotany Database, the Blackfoot Nation has used cutleaf nightshade for medicine to treat childhood diarrhea and stomach aches by using a decoction from the berries. (Note: Ethnobotanical reports often lack important contextual information and relevant traditional ecological knowledge.) Cutleaf nightshade has also been used as a food source. Although toxicity is not known in humans for this species, it is in the same genus as many other species with toxic leaves and fruit. Horses and hamsters have had reactions to the toxicity.
Native American Ethnobotany Database. (n.d.). Solanum triflorum. Retrieved January 31, 2022,
http://naeb.brit.org/uses/search/?string=Solanum+triflorum.
Medicinal Herbs. (n.d.). CUTLEAF NIGHTSHADE, Solanum triflorum. Retrieved March 26, 2019, from http://www.naturalmedicinalherbs.net/herbs/s/solanum-triflorum=cutleaf-nightshade.php
Stegelmeier, B. L., Lee, S. T., James, L. F., Gardner, D. R., Panter, K. E., Ralphs, M. H., & Pfister, J. A. (2007, June 20). CUTLEAF NIGHTSHADE (SOLANUM TRIFLORUMM NUTT.) TOXICITY IN HORSES AND HAMSTERS. USDA Agriculture Research Service. Retrieved January 31, 2022, from https://www.ars.usda.gov/research/publications/publication/?seqNo115=186735
United States Department of Agriculture. (2014). Solanum triflorum.. In
PLANTS Database. Retrieved March 26, 2019, from https://plants.usda.gov/home/plantProfile?symbol=SOTR
Wikipedia contributors. (2021, April 29). Solanum triflorum. Wikipedia. Retrieved March 25, 2019, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solanum_triflorum
Student author*: Salvador (age 16) from The International School at Mesa del Sol
*The entries in this field guide have been edited by Yerba Mansa Project staff to ensure that they contain quality, fact-checked content and standardized formatting. https://yerbamansaproject.org/
Flower | white |
---|---|
Uses | medicinal |
Type | herb |
Life cycle | annual |
Habitat | Dry Plains/Roadsides |
Native | yes |
Berry | green |