Eastern Black Nightshade
Latin Name: Solanum ptychanthum (also Solanum americanum in older literature)
Identifying Characteristics:
- Erect summer annual that can reach 24" in height
- Young leaves have a purple tint on the underside
- Alternate leaf pattern
- Leaves are slightly hairy
- Star-shaped white flowers
- Produces green immature berries that turn black at maturity
- Very similar to Eurasian black nightshade (Solanum nigrum)
Plant Longevity:
- Summer annual
Where Commonly Found:
- Cultivated fields
- Pastures
- Moist, open areas in woodlands
- Loamy or gravelly soils
- Roadsides
- Streambanks
Time of Most Concern:
- When fruits are green
- In a related species, silverleaf nightshade (S. eleagnifolium), ripe berries are more toxic than green berries. 0.1% of total body weight of this plant (1 lb plant per 1000 lb cow) is considered toxic.
Compound that Causes Concern:
- Teroidal glycoalkaloid solanine
- Upon breakdown, a sugar and the alkaloid solanine are recovered. The released steroidal alkaloid, aglycone, is the primary form affecting the nervous system.
- Other aglycones present may include dihydrosolanidine, tomatidine and strophanthidin. Toxic properties of these compounds are characteristic of saponins.
- Some plants contain saponins (foam when agitated in water) and abundant atropine-like components.
Part of Plant Most Toxic:
- Generally, the leaves and green fruits are toxic
- Juice in the wilted leaves is especially toxic and may be deadly if ingested
Livestock Species Affected:
- Cattle
- Goats
- Sheep
- Swine
- Poultry
Pasture, Stored Feed, Both:
- Both
Clinical Signs:
- Weakness
- Convulsions
- Anorexia
- Nausea
- Rapid heart rate or slow heart rate
- Bloat
- The animal may develop a "sitting dog" position and drag its hindquarters
Amount Needed to be Consumed for Clinical Signs / Death:
- 0.1-1% of an animal's body weight
Identifying Characteristics:
- Erect summer annual that can reach 24" in height
- Young leaves have a purple tint on the underside
- Alternate leaf pattern
- Leaves are slightly hairy
- Star-shaped white flowers
- Produces green immature berries that turn black at maturity
- Very similar to Eurasian black nightshade (Solanum nigrum)
Plant Longevity:
- Summer annual
Where Commonly Found:
- Cultivated fields
- Pastures
- Moist, open areas in woodlands
- Loamy or gravelly soils
- Roadsides
- Streambanks
Time of Most Concern:
- When fruits are green
- In a related species, silverleaf nightshade (S. eleagnifolium), ripe berries are more toxic than green berries. 0.1% of total body weight of this plant (1 lb plant per 1000 lb cow) is considered toxic.
Compound that Causes Concern:
- Teroidal glycoalkaloid solanine
- Upon breakdown, a sugar and the alkaloid solanine are recovered. The released steroidal alkaloid, aglycone, is the primary form affecting the nervous system.
- Other aglycones present may include dihydrosolanidine, tomatidine and strophanthidin. Toxic properties of these compounds are characteristic of saponins.
- Some plants contain saponins (foam when agitated in water) and abundant atropine-like components.
Part of Plant Most Toxic:
- Generally, the leaves and green fruits are toxic
- Juice in the wilted leaves is especially toxic and may be deadly if ingested
Livestock Species Affected:
- Cattle
- Goats
- Sheep
- Swine
- Poultry
Pasture, Stored Feed, Both:
- Both
Clinical Signs:
- Weakness
- Convulsions
- Anorexia
- Nausea
- Rapid heart rate or slow heart rate
- Bloat
- The animal may develop a "sitting dog" position and drag its hindquarters
Amount Needed to be Consumed for Clinical Signs / Death:
- 0.1-1% of an animal's body weight
https://weedid.missouri.edu/weedinfo.cfm?weed_id=270
https://extension.psu.edu/management-of-eastern-black-nightshade-in-agronomic-crops
Beasely et al. Notes for Toxicology VB 320: A systems approach to veterinary toxicology. University of Illinois. 1994