Solanaceae, the Nightshade Family
This is a sprawling, multi-stemmed shrub that develops a woody base. Stems may grow to 16 feet long, forming dense, tangled thickets. Broad-based, recurved prickles up to 1/5 inch long are borne on the stems and along the primary veins on the lower surface of the leaves. Straight prickles sometimes occur along the veins on the upper leaf surface. The leaves are ovate to lanceolate in shape, 3 to 9 inches long, and pinnately lobed with broad, rounded sinuses between the lobes. When viewed under magnification, both leaf surfaces bear stellate (star-shaped) hairs, but not simple or glandular hairs. The flowers are borne in short-stalked clusters in the leaf axils. Measuring approximately 5/8 inch wide, each flower has five linear-lanceolate petals that are united only at their base. The corolla is white, and the anthers are bright yellow. The fruit are globose berries, approximately 3/8 inch in diameter, with a lustrous surface that changes from green to orange to red as they mature. Each fruit contains from 10 to 60 flattened, roundish seeds that are yellow to tan in color.
Wetland nightshade is native to Cuba, the Cayman Islands, Mexico and Central America.
This species has been observed in a few central Florida counties and the Keys of Monroe County. It has invaded three major river basins, including the Peace River drainage, Fisheating Creek (part of the western Okeechobee River drainage), and the Big Cypress Swamp drainage. Wetland nightshade most often occurs in floodplain forests, swamps and disturbed wetlands, but has also been observed in open marsh.
There are 10 other spiny species of Solanum in Florida that might be confused with wetland nightshade. The suite of characteristics that help to distinguish wetland nightshade are:
Solanum seeds are typically dispersed by birds. Seeds and stem fragments may also be transported by water currents.
Wetland nightshade forms extensive, impenetrable thickets in remote areas, which makes mechanical control challenging. It can adapt to full sun or deep shade and tolerates periodic flooding. Plants that are cut back to the ground will resprout readily, and adventitious roots may develop on stem fragments that are detached. In full sunlight, plants produce flowers and fruit year-round.