Solanum carolinense Linnaeus var. carolinense . Common name: Carolina Horse-nettle, Ball-nettle. Phenology: Apr-Oct. Habitat: Fields, gardens, disturbed areas. Distribution: ME and MN, south to s. FL and TX; naturalized well beyond this area, and the original native distribution unclear.
ID notes: A very common, weedy native Solanum that is widespread across nearly all of our region, S. carolinense var. carolinense is a perennial herb or suffrutescent, to 1.2 m tall, with cream to yellow straight prickles to 6 mm long. The fruits are initially green (often mottled light / dark green), ripening to a medium orangy yellow, 1-2 cm in diameter.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Synonymy ⓘ: = Fl6, FNA14, K1, K3, K4, NE, NY, Va, WH3, Wahlert, Chiarini, & Bohs (2015); = Solanum carolinense L. – S; < Solanum carolinense L. – Ar, C, F, G, GrPl, Il, Mi, NcTx, Pa, RAB, Tat, Tx, W, WV
Links to other floras: = Solanum carolinense var. carolinense - FNA14
Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU (name change)
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU (name change)
- Great Plains: UPL (name change)
- Midwest: FACU (name change)
- Northcentral & Northeast: FACU (name change)
Heliophily ⓘ: 8
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Horticultural Information
Intro: A prickly, rhizomatous perennial with small yellow fruits resembling tomatoes, found in fields, gardens, and other disturbed areas throughout much of the U.S.
Stems: Stems simple or weakly branched, greenish-purple and hairy, with scattered white to yellowish spines.
Leaves: Leaves alternate, petiolate, triangular to oval with irregular, angled lobes that often seem more like teeth; undersides with spines along the mid-vein.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers on hairy pedicels, in a small terminal cluster; white to light violet, about ¾ in. wide, star-shaped, with 5 petals that are united at the base and five prominently protruding elongated yellow anthers.
Fruits: Fruit a round, dull-yellow berry, about ½ in. long; it is toxic.
Comments: Solanum carolinense var. floridanum . . .??
Height: 1-3 ft.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: A prickly, rhizomatous perennial with small yellow fruits resembling tomatoes, found in fields, gardens, and other disturbed areas throughout much of the U.S.
stems: Stems simple or weakly branched, greenish-purple and hairy, with scattered white to yellowish spines.
leaves: Leaves alternate, petiolate, triangular to oval with irregular, angled lobes that often seem more like teeth; undersides with spines along the mid-vein.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers on hairy pedicels, in a small terminal cluster; white to light violet, about ¾ in. wide, star-shaped, with 5 petals that are united at the base and five prominently protruding elongated yellow anthers.
fruits: Fruit a round, dull-yellow berry, about ½ in. long; it is toxic.
comments: Solanum carolinense var. floridanum . . .??
cultural notes:
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