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Black Nightshade🌿
Solanum nigrum
イヌホオズキ
An annual in the nightshade family, distributed across temperate and tropical regions worldwide. Common weed in fields, roadsides, and wastelands throughout Japan. The Japanese name 'inu-hōzuki' ('dog hōzuki') implies a useless look-alike of Chinese lantern (hōzuki). Also called 'baka-nasu'. Bears small white 5-petaled flowers and black berries under 1 cm across. Contains toxic solanine alkaloids, though young leaves are traditionally eaten (cooked) in some regions.
Identification Points
- ✓Alternate ovate leaves with wavy or entire margins
- ✓Small white 5-petaled flowers
- ✓Black berries 5–8 mm across in small clusters
Habitat
Fields, roadsides, wastelands
Season
August to October (flowers and fruit)
Morphological TraitsAI-estimated, needs verification
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf shape
Ovate
Growth form
Herb
Petal count
5 petals
Flower color
White
Flowering season
Summer
Habitat
Roadside
Phylogenetic Positionナス科 →
Phylogenetic Position
Angiosperms > Eudicots > Core Eudicots > Solanales > Solanaceae
Divergence Era
Paleogene (ca. 50 million years ago)
Sources & References
AI-generated, needs verification