Hairy nightshade

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Red Nightshade
• red-fruit nightshade
• woolly nightshade

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Witheringia rubra
• Solanum nigrum var. ochroleucum
• Solanum luteum subsp. alatum
• Solanum villosum var. alatum
• Solanum nigrum subsp. alatum
• Solanum villosum var. miniatum
• Solanum nigrum var. miniatum
• Solanum villosum subsp. miniatum
• Solanum villosum subvar. miniatum
• Solanum luteum subsp. villosum
• Solanum morella subsp. luteum
• Solanum miniatum var. glabriusculum
• Solanum nigrum aegyptiacum
• Solanum nigrum f. angulosum
• Solanum rubrum
• Solanum suffruticosum
• Solanum sinaicum
• Solanum purpureilineatum
• Solanum woronowii
• Solanum transcaucasicum
• Solanum nilagiricum
• Solanum nigrum var. suffruticosum
• Solanum carmanicum
• Solanum villosum subsp. ochroleucum
• Solanum luteum var. procerum
• Solanum luteum f. miniatibaccatum
• Solanum luteum var. miniatibaccatum
• Solanum nigrum proles alatum
• Solanum nigrum proles ochroleucum
• Solanum nigrum subsp. ochroleucum
• Solanum olgae
• Solanum villosum var. velutinum
• Solanum nigrum var. villosum
• Solanum villosum var. laevigatum
• Solanum miniatum
• Solanum morella var. flavum
• Solanum nigrum var. sancti-marini
• Solanum pseudovillosum
• Solanum aegyptiacum
• Solanum nigrum subsp. villosum
• Solanum flavum
• Solanum flavum humile
• Solanum minutiflorum
• Solanum kitaibelii
• Solanum nigrum subsp. luteovirescens
• Solanum nigrum subsp. luteum
• Solanum nigrum var. rubrum
• Solanum luteum
• Solanum luteovirescens
• Solanum villosum f. miniatum
• Solanum nigrum subvar. ochroleucum
• Solanum ochroleucum
• Solanum hildebrandtii
• Solanum patens
• Solanum nigrum subsp. miniatum
• Solanum plebeium
• Solanum nigrum subsp. humile
• Solanum nigrum f. humile
• Solanum incertum
• Solanum villosum subsp. alatum
• Solanum ochroleucum var. flavum
• Solanum zelenetzkii
• Solanum miniatum var. stenopetalum
• Solanum cerinum
• Solanum miniatum var. villosissimum
• Solanum miniatum var. subserratum
• Solanum plebeium var. brachysepalum
• Solanum plebeium var. subtile
• Solanum nigrum var. alatum
• Solanum nigrum var. aurantium
• Solanum villosum var. miniatibaccatum
• Solanum luteum var. calvum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Solanales and the family Solanaceae. Finally, it is identified by its genus, Solanum, and its specific species name, Solanum villosum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution across several regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its presence is documented in Denmark and Great Britain. It can also be found growing within the territories of Ireland and Sweden. Moving toward Middle Europe, the species is recognized in Austria. Together, these locations define the known geographical range of Solanum villosum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Solanum villosum is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to diverse environmental conditions and a wide vertical distribution. It thrives across a broad elevational gradient, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum altitude of 2440 m AMSL. This wide range allows the species to occupy various ecological niches, ranging from coastal environments to high-altitude terrains. Specifically, its primary habitats include roadsides, stony places, and coastal areas near the sea, where it can establish itself in disturbed or rocky substrates.

Elevational range max:

2440 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

roadsides, sea, stony places

Life history

The life history of Solanum villosum is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning the plant completes its entire biological progression from germination to seed production within a single growing season. As a therophyte, it follows a specific survival strategy where the plant dies down at the end of the season, leaving only seeds to persist through unfavorable conditions. This life form is consistent across its developmental stages, as it functions as a therophyte, relying on these dormant seeds to ensure the continuation of the species before the next seasonal cycle begins.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Solanum villosum is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. It is a terrestrial plant that functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite or epiphyte. In terms of its physical structure, the plant is self-supporting rather than acting as a liana or vine. Its stature is relatively modest, with a plant height that ranges from a minimum of 0.1 m to a maximum of 1.2 m, maintaining an average height of approximately 0.275 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.2 m

Plant height mean:

0.275 m

Plant height min:

0.1 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Solanum villosum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating its reliance on the standard Calvin cycle for carbon fixation. Its vegetative structure features an alternate leaf arrangement, with leaves exhibiting an ovate form. Morphologically, the leaves vary in dimensions, reaching a maximum length of 9 cm, while maintaining a mean width of 5 cm and a mean width maximum of 3 cm. The average surface area of the leaves is recorded at a mean of 4.475 cm². Furthermore, the plant possesses a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 175.4 cm²/g, which reflects its leaf mass per area dynamics. In terms of nutrient acquisition, Solanum villosum does not function as a nitrogen fixer.

Leaf arrangement :

alternate

Leaf form :

ovate

Leaf length max:

9 cm

Leaf size mean:

4.475 cm²

Leaf width max:

3 cm

Leaf width mean:

5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

175.4 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Solanum villosum is characterized by a flowering period that typically begins in January and concludes in October, though the timing can be variable. The plant produces white flowers that are subject to biotic pollination, specifically utilizing an insect pollination syndrome. Self-fertilization is present within the species, ensuring reproductive success. Following fertilization, the plant develops fleshy, indehiscent fruits categorized as berries. These orange-colored fruits typically measure approximately 0.8 cm in mean length and 0.8 cm in mean width, with dimensions ranging from a minimum width of 0.7 cm to a maximum width of 1 cm. The dispersal of the species follows a zoochorous pattern, specifically through endozoochory, where seeds are dispersed via the digestive tracts of animals. The seeds themselves are relatively small, with a mean mass of 0.000735 g (ranging from 0.00068 g to 0.00079 g), a consistent width of 2 mm, and a mean volume of 1.9 mm³.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

endozoochorous

Flower colour :

white

Flowering time :

Jan

Flowering time :

Oct

Fruit colour :

orange

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length mean:

0.8 cm

Fruit type :

berry

Fruit width max:

1 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.8 cm

Fruit width min:

0.7 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

0.00079 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000735 g

Seed mass min:

0.00068 g

Seed volume max:

1.9 mm³

Seed width mean:

2 mm

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Solanum villosum has 2 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit, leaf.

Fruit

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
2. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Leaf

1. Journal of food and drug analysis

Chemicals

Solanum villosum has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CHLOROGENIC ACID, Saponins, VITAMIN E, cis-hex-3-enyl acetate, solasodine.

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Journal of food and drug analysis

Saponins

1. Journal of food and drug analysis

VITAMIN E

1. Journal of food and drug analysis

cis-hex-3-enyl acetate

1. Archives of insect biochemistry and physiology

solasodine

1. Protoplasma

Conditions

Solanum villosum has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include dengue fever.

Dengue fever

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Preparations

Solanum villosum has 1 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include leafy vegetables.

Leafy vegetables

1. Journal of food and drug analysis