Solanum nigrum Cav., Solanaceae

Click on an image for links to BIGGER PICTURES

Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: long kui

English: black nightshade, blackberry nightshade, nightshade, poisonberry

Fijian: boro ni veiwere, boro ni yaloki ni gata, malahome

Filipino: kamakamatisan, kunti, malasili

French: brède martin, crève-chien, morelle noire

Japanese: inuhōzuki

Mangarevan: tutai kiore

Niuean: polokai

Other: aubru, obrew, obro

Samoan: māgalo, magalo, magalogalo, polo, polo vao

Spanish: hierba mora, llague, pintamora, tomatillo, tomatito de moro, tomatitos, trompillo, yerba mora

Tongan: polo kai

Habit:  herb

Description:  "Annual herb, glabrous or slightly pubescent; hairs if present simple (not stellate); leaves ovate to lanceolate thin, flexible, entire or obscurely toothed, acute, at base somewhat asymmetrically obtuse or rounded and decurrent; petiole to 3 cm long; blades to 10 cm long; inflorescence supra-axillary, shorter than leaf, several-flowered; flowers 7 mm wide, nodding; calyx campanulate, the obtuse 1 mm lobes becoming reflexed; corolla white or yellowish, lobes 2.5 mm long; stamens 2.5 mm long, yellow; anthers poricidal; ovary glabrous but the style puberulent; berry glabrous, purple-black, juicy, about 6 mm diameter, many-seeded; seeds flat, 1.5 x 1 mm"  (Stone, 1970; pp. 521-522).

Habitat/ecology:  "A common weed in gardens, fields, waste areas and open forests.  It is mainly a weed of moist environments, and thrives in areas of low rainfall only where the land is under irrigation.  It is best adapted to soils of high fertility, especially those high in nitrogen and phosphorus"  (Holm et al., 1977; p. 430).  "Occasional in disturbed places and croplands, but is not usually a dominant species where it occurs" (Whistler, 1983; p. 67).

In Guam, "in waste ground and newly cultivated soil; weedy but not especially troublesome"  (Stone, 1970; pp. 521-522).  In Niue, "a very common weed in plantations and other areas of disturbed ground" (Sykes, 1970; pp. 197-198). In New Guinea, "a weed of cultivation and waste land, in pasture about yards and tress. From low altitudes to 3000 m" (Henty & Pritchard, 1975; p. 150). In Tonga, "frequent...as a plantation weed" (Yuncker, 1959; p. 238). In New Caledonia, "naturalisé depuis longtemps et largement répandu" (MacKee, 1994; p. 132).  "In Chile this species grows in the following environmental conditions:  Low altitude, interior valleys.  Somewhat dry areas where the drought may last 3-5 months, precipitations of 400-800 mm. are concentrated in winter.  Some shadow, some protection against direct sunlight, some shadow from vegetation, filtering about 20-40% of light"  (Chileflora).

Propagation:  "The plant reproduces from seed, of which as many as 178,000 per plant may be produced" (Holm et al., 1977; p. 430).  "Seeds are dispersed by birds and small mammals"  (Weber, 2003; p. 407).

Native range:  A native of Europe (Holm et al., 1977; p. 430).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Ofu Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1945) (p. 62) Voucher cited: Garber 976 (BISH)
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Ta‘u Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1945) (p. 62) Voucher cited: Garber 597 (BISH)
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 97)
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island		Anon. (1988) (p. 3)
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island		Setchell, William Albert (1924) (p. 53)
Australia (Pacific offshore islands) Lord Howe Island	Lord Howe Island	introduced	Pickard, J. (1984) (p. 208) subsp. nigrum
Australia (Pacific offshore islands) Lord Howe Island	Lord Howe Island	introduced invasive	Orchard, Anthony E., ed. (1994) (p. 21) "An introduced, widespread and cosmopolitan weed". Voucher cited: A.N. Rodd 1821 (NSW)
Chile (offshore islands) Juan Fernández Islands	Isla Más a Tierra (Robinson Crusoe Island)	introduced	Cuevas, Jaime G./Marticorena, Alicia/Cavieres, Lohengrin A. (2004) (p. 537) Voucher cited: CONC 158068, JF 303
Chile (offshore islands) Juan Fernández Islands	Isla Más a Tierra (Robinson Crusoe Island)	introduced invasive	Atkinson, Rachel/Sawyer, John (2011)
Chile (offshore islands) Juan Fernández Islands	Isla Más a Tierra (Robinson Crusoe Island)	introduced invasive cultivated	Danton, Philippe/Perrier, Christophe/Martinez Reyes, Guido (2006) (p. 557)
French Polynesia Gambier Islands	Aukena Island	introduced cultivated	St. John, Harold (1988) (p. 23) Voucher cited: St. John 14659 (BISH)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Mehetia (Mahetia, Meetia) Island		Fosberg, F. R. (1997) (p. 143)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island		Fosberg, F. R. (1997) (p. 143)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		Fosberg, F. R. (1997) (p. 143)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: F.R. Fosberg & B.C. Stone 61328 (PAP)
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Raivavae (Raevavae) Island		Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 5728 (PAP)
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rapa Island		Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 6321 (PAP)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced invasive	Stone, Benjamin C. (1970) (pp. 521-522)
Japan (offshore islands) Ogasawara (Bonin) Islands	Bonin (Ogasawara) Islands		Kato, Hidetoshi (2007)
New Caledonia Récifs D'Entrecasteaux (D'Entrecasteaux Reefs)	Île Surprise	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 132) Voucher cited: Blanchon 431
New Caledonia Hunter Island	Île Hunter	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 132) Voucher cited: Veillon 3402 (NOU)
New Caledonia Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)	Îles Loyauté (Loyalty Islands)	introduced invasive	Tassin, Jacques (2005)
New Caledonia Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)	Îles Ouvéa (Ouvea Atoll)	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 132) Voucher cited: Blanchon 1531
New Caledonia Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)	Île Tiga	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 132) Voucher cited: MacKee 45863
New Caledonia Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)	Île Walpole	introduced	Renevier, Alain/Cherrier, Jean-Francois (1991) (p. 19) Voucher cited: Cherrier in MacKee 44060
New Caledonia Matthew Island	Île Matthew	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 132) Vouchers cited: Hmakone & Sam in MacKee 25831, Kusser in MacKee 26788
New Caledonia New Caledonia	New Caledonia Islands	introduced invasive cultivated	Gargominy, Oliver/Bouchet, Philipe/Pascal, Michel/Jaffre, Tanguy/Tourneu, Jean-Christophe (1996) (p. 383) Naturalisé depuis longtemps et largement répandue.
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive	Tassin, Jacques (2005)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 132) Vouchers cited: Vieillard 1028, Balansa 523, de Pompéry s.n., Bougier 20, MacKee 17349
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1982) (voucher ID: PTBG 32932) Taxon name on voucher: Solanum nigrum L.
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1982) (voucher ID: PTBG 4129) Taxon name on voucher: Solanum nigrum
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île des Pins (Isle of Pines)	introduced invasive	Tassin, Jacques (2005)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île des Pins (Isle of Pines)	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 132) Voucher cited: Pancher 605
New Zealand (offshore islands) Kermadec Islands	Cheeseman Island	native	Sykes, W. R. (1977) (p. 144) Perhaps a natural introduction from New Zealand by birds.
New Zealand (offshore islands) Kermadec Islands	Curtis Island	native	Sykes, W. R. (1977) (p. 144) Perhaps a natural introduction from New Zealand by birds.
New Zealand (offshore islands) Kermadec Islands	Macauley Island	native	Sykes, W. R. (1977) (p. 144) Perhaps a natural introduction from New Zealand by birds.
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Malakal (Ngemelachel) Island		Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (1968) (voucher ID: BNM 758) Taxon name on voucher: Solanum nigrum L.
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	invasive	Henty, E. E./Pritchard, G. H. (1975) (p. 150) From low altitudes to 3000 m.
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands		Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (p. 68)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands		Merrill, Elmer D. (1923) (pp. 427-428) In open waste places, recently disturbed soil, etc., from sea level to an altitude of 2,000 m.
Pitcairn Islands Pitcairn Islands	Pitcairn Island	introduced	St. John, H. (1987) (p. 50) Vouchers cited: Ross 56, R. A. Young 29, St. John 15044, Fosberg & R. Clark 11337
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Western Samoa Islands		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 97)
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 97)
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands	native	Hancock, I. R./Henderson, C. P. (1988) (p. 109)
Vanuatu New Hebrides Islands	Vanuatu (Republic of)		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 97)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia Australia (continental)	New South Wales	introduced invasive	Holm, Leroy G./Plucknett, D. L./Pancho, J. V./Herberger, J. P. (1977) (p. 435)
Australia Australia (continental)	Queensland	introduced invasive	Holm, Leroy G./Plucknett, D. L./Pancho, J. V./Herberger, J. P. (1977) (p. 432)
Cambodia Cambodia	Cambodia (Kingdom of)		Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (p. 68)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Costa Rica (Republic of)	introduced invasive	Holm, Leroy G./Plucknett, D. L./Pancho, J. V./Herberger, J. P. (1977) (pp. 432-433)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	El Salvador (Republic of)	introduced invasive	Holm, Leroy G./Plucknett, D. L./Pancho, J. V./Herberger, J. P. (1977) (pp. 432-433)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Honduras (Republic of)	introduced invasive	Holm, Leroy G./Plucknett, D. L./Pancho, J. V./Herberger, J. P. (1977) (pp. 432-433)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Panama (Republic of)	introduced invasive	Holm, Leroy G./Plucknett, D. L./Pancho, J. V./Herberger, J. P. (1977) (pp. 432, 434)
China China	China (People's Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
China China	Hong Kong	native	Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 220) In wasteland or along roadside.
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)		Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (p. 68)
Japan Japan	Japan	introduced invasive	Holm, Leroy G./Plucknett, D. L./Pancho, J. V./Herberger, J. P. (1977) (p. 432)
South Korea South Korea	South Korea (Republic of)		Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (pp. 341-342)
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)		Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (p. 68)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	introduced invasive	Holm, Leroy G./Plucknett, D. L./Pancho, J. V./Herberger, J. P. (1977) (p. 432)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized
New Zealand New Zealand	New Zealand (country)	introduced invasive	Webb, C. J./Sykes, W. R./Garnock-Jones, P. J. (1988) (p. 1247) "Generally abundant, especially in open places such as arable land, waste places, dry riverbeds and roadsides, particularly much-disturbed areas".
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)		Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (p. 68)
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Chile (Republic of)	introduced invasive	Holm, Leroy G./Plucknett, D. L./Pancho, J. V./Herberger, J. P. (1977) (p. 432)
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Colombia	introduced invasive	Holm, Leroy G./Plucknett, D. L./Pancho, J. V./Herberger, J. P. (1977) (p. 432)
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Perú (Republic of)	introduced invasive	Holm, Leroy G./Plucknett, D. L./Pancho, J. V./Herberger, J. P. (1977) (p. 432)
Taiwan Taiwan Island	Taiwan Island	introduced invasive	Holm, Leroy G./Plucknett, D. L./Pancho, J. V./Herberger, J. P. (1977) (p. 432)
Taiwan Taiwan Island	Taiwan Island	introduced invasive	Ching-I Peng, ed. (2013) "A common weed of cultivation, 600-3000 m".
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)		Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (p. 68)

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
British Indian Ocean Territory Chagos Archipelago	Diego Garcia Island	introduced	Stoddart, D. R./Taylor, J. D., eds. (1971) (p. 157) "Seen by Wiehe in 1939".
Mauritius Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues)	Mauritius Island	introduced invasive	Holm, Leroy G./Plucknett, D. L./Pancho, J. V./Herberger, J. P. (1977) (pp. 432, 434)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Coetivy Island		Robertson, S. A./Fosberg, F. R. (1983) (p. 155) Voucher cited: Robertson 3093 (K)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	D'Arros Island		Stoddart, D. R./Coe, M. J./Fosberg, F. R. (1979) (p. 25) Voucher cited: Gwynne & Wood 1018 (EA)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Desnoeufs Island		Wilson, J. R. (1983) (p. 210)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Frégate Island		Robertson, S. A./Todd, D. M. (1983) (p. 61) Vouchers cited: Procter 4149, Robertson 2718
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Marie-Louise Island		Wilson, J. R. (1983) (p. 195)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Platte Island		Robertson, S. A./Fosberg, F. R. (1983) (p. 163) Voucher cited: Robertson 3015 (K)

Also reported from
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	United States (other states)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized

Control: 

Physical:  "Seedlings and small plants can be hand pulled.  Mowing or cutting is used to prevent seed formation".

Chemical:  "Effective herbicides are atrazine, dicamba or 2,4-D"  (Weber, 2003; p. 407).