58. SOLANACEAE - Nightshade family - Pages

58. SOLANACEAE - Nightshade family

SOLANACEAE - Nightshade family

LYCIUM L.

Lycium barbarum L. (Duke of Argyll's Teaplant) / General Scarce A scattered introduction; found established on sand dunes, river banks, in hedges, walls and brownfield sites. It is "Commonly called the Duke of Argyll's Tea-tree, from the circumstance of a tea-plant having been sent to the Duke of Argyll at the same time as this plant, and the labels having been accidentally changed." (White, 1912).
Lycium chinense Mill. (Chinese Teaplant) / General Very Rare An introduction; found in the same situations as L. barbarum though much rarer and with few recent records. First recorded on wasteground in Bedminster in 1932 and Blackswarth Road, St George, Bristol in 1936 by C.I. Sandwith, though the two species were not delineated until relatively recently and they are still much confused. L. chinense differs from L. barbarum in its more ovate leaves, being distinctly widest below the middle (widest at the centre in L. barbarum), larger flowers with more deeply divided corolla lobes with densely minutely hairy ciliate margins (at most only slightly ciliate in L. barbarum), and the three main veins on each lobe being more branched.

[Need to check herbarium specimens to see if the Sandwith records do correctly refer to this.]

ATROPA L.

Atropa belladonna L. (Deadly Nightshade) - General Very Rare A very rare plant in our region with an almost mythical status; found in open limestone woods, scrub, and on disturbed ground. Only recently recorded consistently from the Bath area. Otherwise only recorded at Gordano Valley in 2008 by ?; on Steep Holm in 2009 by ? and at Bleadon, North Somerset in 2013 by ?. "This is probably the most dangerous British plant. The rich, black fruit is tempting in appearance, sweetish, and without any remarkable or repulsive flavour, so that children and others have often eaten it and have died. Even a single berry is said to have proved fatal to a young child." (White, 1912). Unfortunately this plant seems to have fallen out of the limelight as there have not been any cases of poinsoning in Britain for many years. Today the media chooses to obsess over other 'deadly poisonous' plants instead such as Giant Hogweed, Hemlock Water-dropwort and Ragwort! "S. Rootsey..., says...where it is wild in Gloucestershire, is by the country people called 'Ink-berries'." (White, 1912).

[Recent records from Bath on BSBI.]

HYOSCYAMUS L.

Hyoscyamus niger L. (Henbane) - General Scarce A rare plant of disturbed and cultivated places, particularly on sandy soils by the coast. Very persistent and acting as a native in some places such as Steep Holm where it was almost certainly introduced by the monks which once inhabited the island but elsewhere more frequently occuring as a sporadic casual. The plant has long been cultivated for its medicinal and hallucinogenic properties.
Hyoscyamus albus L. (White Henbane) General Extinct A native of southern Europe; recorded at Ashton Gate in 1937 by ? [BMAG].

NICANDRA Adans.

Nicandra physalodes (L.) Gaertn. (Apple-of-Peru) / General Scarce A widespread but irregular casual of tips, sewage treatment works and newly made ground where it gets imported with top soil and more widely occurring as a birdseed alien. It has become a more frequent sight in recent years. First recorded in our region from Ashton Gate in 1918 by M. Cobbe.

[[Record by R.D. Randall BRLSI]

DATURA L.

Datura stramonium L. (Thorn-apple) / General Scarce A regular casual of manure heaps, newly made ground, roadsides and as a birdseed alien; particularly around lakes and reservoirs.
var. stramonium General Scarce The typical plant with white flowers and spine-bearing fruits and to which most records refer.
var. chalybaea W.D.J. Koch (var. tatula (L.) Torr.) General Extinct With purple flowers; was found at Royal Portbury Dock in 1994 by R.J. Higgins and at Avonmouth Sewage Works in 1996 by J.P. Martin.
Datura ferox L. (Longspine Thorn-apple) General Very Rare Recorded at Avonmouth Docks in 1957 by ? [BMAG] and on a manure heap at Yatton in 2020s by ? [BSBI record].

PHYSALIS L.

Physalis peruviana L. (Cape-gooseberry) / General Rare Grown for intrigue in gardens and allotments as an exotic fruit and sometimes found as a casual on newly made ground, around sewage works and as a birdseed alien. First recorded in our region at Ashton Gate in 1934 by ? [BMAG].
Physalis pubescens L. (Downy Ground-cherry, Low Ground-cherry) 1926 General Extinct A native of North & South America; recorded at Avonmouth Docks in 1932 by H.J. Gibbons and I.W. Evans [BMAG].
Physalis patula Mill. (P. foetens Poir.) (Stinking Ground-cherry?) General Extinct A native of Mexico; recorded at St Philip's Marsh in 1916 by G.C. Druce, M. Cobbe and C.I. Sandwith; and at Bedminster in 1926 by C.I. Sandwith.
Physalis ixocarpa Brot. ex Hornem. (Tomatillo) General Very Rare A native of North & South America; sometimes grown in gardens and allotments and may escape. Recorded at ST57 in 1980s by ? [BSBI record] and at Stoke Bishop, Bristol in 2016 by R.J. Higgins.
Physalis angulata L. (Cut-leaved Ground-cherry) General Extinct A native of North & South America; recorded at Baptist Mills in 1925 by C.I. Sandwith; at Avonmouth Docks in 1930 by H.J. Gibbons [BMAG]; and at ST57 in 1990s by ? [BSBI record].
Physalis philadelphica Lam. (Large-flowered Tomatillo) / General Very Rare A very rare casual. Two plants were recorded at Avonmouth Sewage Works in 1996 by R.J. Higgins and J.P. Martin; at ST57S in 2010s by ? [BSBI record]; and most recently four plants were found on introduced top soil after roadworks outside Lidl, Muller Road, Bristol in 2023 by D. Peters but they were destroyed shortly after.

ALKEKENGI Mill.

Alkekengi officinarum Moench (var. officinarum) (Chinese-lantern) - [on DB as Physalis alkekengi] General Very Rare A very rare introduction. First recorded in our region at Farrington Gurney in 1999 by Cam Valley Wildlife Group; then at ST46T in 2010s by ? [BSBI record]; thoroughly established between paving slabs in a front garden on Maple Road, Bishopston, Bristol where it's been known since 2014 and at the base of a wall on Cotham Brow, Cotham, Bristol in 2023 by D. Peters; and at Bath in 2020s by ? [BSBI record].

CAPSICUM L.

Capsicum annuum L. (var. annuum) (Sweet Pepper) - [Sandwith, 1932] General Very Rare Recorded at Avonmouth Docks in 1930 by C.I. Sandwith and recently a young plant was found growing at the base of a wall on Muller Road, Eastville, Bristol in 2022 by D. Peters.

SOLANUM L.

Solanum nigrum L. ssp. nigrum (Black Nightshade) / General Frequent Commonly encountered on manure heaps, pavements, around docks and other disturbed ground.
Solanum villosum Mill. (Red Nightshade) - [Sandwith, 1932 (as S. suffruticosum)] General Extinct A native of southern Europe. See subspecies for details.
ssp. villosum - [Sandwith, 1932 (as S. suffruticosum)] General Extinct Recorded on a railway siding near Shirehampton in 1917 by C.I. Sandwith (as S. suffruticosum).
ssp. miniatum (Bernh. ex Willd.) (Red Nightshade) - [Sandwith, 1932 (as S. alatum)] General Extinct "A glabrescent form, fruiting well" was recorded at Avonmouth Docks in 1931 by C.I. Sandwith (Sandwith, 1932 [as S. alatum]).
Solanum chenopodioides Lam. (Tall Nightshade) / - 1 BSBI record General Very Rare A recent addition to the region. First recorded at Bath in 2020s by ? [BSBI record]; and a large bird-sown plant was found at the base of a wall near the entrance of an underpass to Eastville Roundabout, Bristol in 2023 by D. Peters. It reappeared the following year but was later destroyed.
Solanum nitidibaccatum Bitter (S. physalifolium Rusby) (Green Nightshade) General Very Rare A very Rare casual. Only recently recorded at Cleeve in 2009 by ? and at ST46Z in 2010s by ? [BSBI record].
Solanum sarrachoides Sendtn. (Leafy-fruited Nightshade) - [Sandwith, 1932] General Extinct A native of South America; recorded at Avonmouth Docks in 1926 by J.W. White and C.I. Sandwith and again in 1928 by H.J. Gibbons; and at ST68K in 1980s by ? [BSBI record].
Solanum triflorum Nutt. (Small Nightshade) 1917 General Extinct Recorded at Ashton Gate in 1917 by ? [BMAG]; at Avonmouth Docks in 1927 by ? [BMAG]; and there again in 1930 by ? [BMAG].
Solanum pseudocapsicum L. (Winter-cherry, Jerusalem-cherry - NBN) [on DB as S. capsicastrum] General Very Rare Grown for ornament and occasionally found in public green spaces. Was recorded from a number of parks around Bristol in 2000 by R. Bland: a park in Bristol; in a park in Bristol City Centre; Avonmouth; and Avonmouth [looks more like Shirehampton to me].

[Need more information.]

Solanum dulcamara L. (Bittersweet / Woody Nightshade) / General Frequent A common plant mostly associated with wet and shaded places such as woodland, scrub, hedgerows, ditch-sides but also in more open areas including brownfield sites and sand dunes. It is extremely variable in size. Well-protected plants such as in hedgerows can often attain heights of several metres, acting almost like a vine.
var. dulcamara General Frequent The nominate plant with the same range and distribution as the species.
var. marinum Bab. (Bittersweet / Woody Nightshade) Coasts Extinct Recorded at Leigh Woods in 1999 by T. Corner.

[Is this reliable? Plants from sand dunes may be this.]

Solanum crispum Ruiz & Pav. (Chilean Nightshade - GBIF, Chilean Potato Vine, Chilean Potato Tree, Potato-vine - Wikipedia) General Very Rare A native of Chili and Argentina; grown in gardens under the cultivar 'Glasnevin'. Recorded at Canford Park, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol in 2015 by R. Bland and at Clevedon in 2020s by ? [BSBI record].
Solanum tuberosum L. (Potato) - General Commonly grown on both large and small scale and occasionally found as a crop relic or introduction spread via tubers.
Solanum lycopersicum L. (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) (Tomato) / General Uncommon A frequent casual on kerbsides, spoil heaps and around sewage treatment works though rarely reaches a stage for the fruit to ripen.
Solanum laciniatum (Kangaroo-apple) - Rupert Higgins General Very Rare Was found as a birdseed alien at the base of a lamp post on Gloucester Road, bristol in 2019 by R.J. Higgins.
Solanum sisymbriifolium Lam. (Red Buffalo-bur) - [Sandwith, 1932] General Extinct A native of South America; recorded at St Philip's Marsh in 1922 by I.M. Roper and Avonmouth Docks in 1928 by C.I. Sandwith and H.J. Gibbons; there again in 1933 by ? [BMAG]; and seen for the last time in 1960 by ? [BMAG].
Solanum rostratum Dunal (Buffalo-bur) General Extinct A native of North America; "Colliery heap, Kingswood, 1882" (White, 1912); St Philip's Marsh in 1911 (White, 1918); Wee Lane [now Glenfrome Road] in 1918 by C.I. Sandwith; St Anne's, Brislington in 1922 by H.J. Gibbons; Hartley Wood, Poachers Pocket, North Somerset in 1984 by R. Janes; at Avonmouth Sewage Works in 1990 by R.J. Higgins; and only recently recorded on Lake Road, Southmead, Bristol in 2017 by N. Lusby.

[Are the 1984 and 2017 records reliable?]

NICOTIANA L.

Nicotiana rustica L. (Wild Tobacco) 1912 General Extinct A native of Peru; "One fine plant sporadic on Kinsweston Down, G., Oct. 1911" (White, 1912); recorded at Avonmouth Docks in 1928 by H.J. Gibbons and again in 1930 by I.W. Evans; and Bristol in 1988 by C. Scott and J.H. Julian [not sure about name].

[Check 1988 record as it's not mentioned in FOTBR.]

Nicotiana longiflora Cav. (Long-flowered Tobacco) General Extinct A native of central South America; recorded at Bristol in 1935 (Riddelsdell, 1948).

[See B.E.C. 1935.]

Nicotiana alata Link & Otto (Sweet Tobacco) /- General Very Rare Widely grown for ornament in gardens and sometimes escapes onto pavements and found as a casual on tips and other disturbed ground. First recorded at ST57 in 1930s by ? [BSBI record].

9 records 1935 06/09/1935 ST5671 Noted as tip, Ashton Gate, Bristol Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery - - 2912 1985 1985 ST5868 Hartcliffe (North) Martin Mr. R.D. - 373 2002 2002 ST5670 Ashton Vale, Bristol Bland Mr. R.L. Richard 683 2003 16/09/2003 ST409686 Rust Lane, Kenn. (tip) Evans - Martin 362 2003 2003 ST575735 Clifton, Bristol Bland Mr. R.L. Richard 683 2009 27/10/2009 ST5372761925 On a heap of earth and rubble at the edge of a field, Regil Webster Mrs Margaret 3012 2009 27/10/2009 ST537619 Regil, comments may have more precise location details. Location is as given to BRERC as part of large dataset Crouch Dr Helena J 1568 2017 11/12/2017 ST53057919 Kingsweston Lane, Avonmouth, rhine KL/2 Vickress Sophie 9897 2020 29/09/2020 ST6284 Hortham Wood Higgins J Rupert 45

Nicotiana alata x forgetiana = N. x *sanderae* W. Watson (N. × sanderi Mast. - Kew, GBIF) (Sweet x Red Tobacco) General Very Rare Grown in gardens and sometimes escapes. Recorded on a heap of earth and rubble at the edge of a field at Regil, North Somerset in 2009 by M. Webster; on Kingsweston Lane, Avonmouth in 2017 by S. Vickress; at ST57V in 2010s by ?; at ST57B in 2010s by ?; and at ST66E in 2020s by ? [BSBI records].
Nicotiana forgetiana Hemsl. (Red Tobacco) General Extinct Recorded at Avonmouth Sewage Works in 1996 by R.J. Higgins.
Nicotiana sylvestris Speg. & Comes (Woodland Tobacco) General Very Rare Grown in gardens. Recorded at Bath in 2010s by ? [BSBI record].

PETUNIA Juss.

Petunia axillaris x P. integrifolia = P. x *hybrida (P. axillaris × P. inflata = P. × atkinsiana* (Sweet) D. Don ex W.H. Baxter) (Petunia) - Rupert Higgins General Very Rare Commonly grown as a bedding plant and conspicuous for adorning pub hanging baskets though it very rarely self-seeds. Recorded in a field off Roman Road, Bleadon in 1998 by J. Maxwell; on Bleadon Hill in 1998 by D. Maxwell [our these the same record?]; Henleaze, Bristol in 2002 by R.L. Bland; Yatton and Claverham, North Somerset in 2013 by A. Hancock [iRecord]; Cannon's Marsh, Bristol in 2016 by C. & M.A.R. Kitchen.

[More records on BSBI. Maybe don't need to mention all records.]

List:

Lycium barbarum L. (Duke of Argyll's Teaplant) / General
Lycium chinense Mill. (Chinese Teaplant) / General
Atropa belladonna L. (Deadly Nightshade) - General
Hyoscyamus niger L. (Henbane) - General
Hyoscyamus albus L. (White Henbane) General
Nicandra physalodes (L.) Gaertn. (Apple-of-Peru) / General
Datura stramonium L. var. stramonium (Stace, NBN) (Thorn-apple) / General
Datura stramonium L. var. chalybaea W.D.J. Koch (Stace, NBN) var. tatula (L.) Torr. (old name) (Thorn-apple) General
Datura ferox L. (Longspine Thorn-apple) General
Physalis peruviana L. (Cape-gooseberry) / General
Physalis pubescens L. (Downy Ground-cherry - Stace, Husk Tomato - GBIF, Wikipedia, Low Ground-cherry, Hairy Ground-cherry - Wikipedia) 1926 General
Physalis patula Mill (Kew, GBIF) Physalis foetens Poir. (old name) (Stinking Ground-cherry?) General
Physalis ixocarpa Brot. ex Hornem. (Tomatillo) General
Physalis angulata L. (Cut-leaved Ground-cherry) General
Physalis philadelphica Lam. (Large-flowered Tomatillo) / General
Alkekengi officinarum Moench (var. officinarum - Kew, GBIF) (Chinese-lantern) - [on DB as Physalis alkekengi] General
Capsicum annuum L. (var. annuum - Kew, GBIF) (Sweet Pepper) - [Sandwith, 1932] General
Solanum nigrum L. (ssp. nigrum - Stace, NBN) (Black Nightshade) / General
Solanum villosum Mill. ssp. villosum (Red Nightshade) - [Sandwith, 1932 (as S. suffruticosum)] General
Solanum villosum Mill. ssp. miniatum (Bernh. ex Willd.) (Red Nightshade) - [Sandwith, 1932 (as S. alatum)] General
Solanum chenopodioides Lam. (Tall Nightshade) / - 1 BSBI record General
Solanum nitidibaccatum Bitter (Stace) Solanum physalifolium Rusby (NBN) (Green Nightshade) General
Solanum sarrachoides Sendtn. (Leafy-fruited Nightshade) - [Sandwith, 1932] General
Solanum triflorum Nutt. (Small Nightshade) 1917 General
Solanum pseudocapsicum L. (Winter-cherry, Jerusalem-cherry - NBN) [on DB as S. capsicastrum] General
Solanum dulcamara L. (var. dulcamara - Stace, NBN) (Bittersweet / Woody Nightshade) / General
Solanum dulcamara L. var. marinum Bab. (Bittersweet / Woody Nightshade) Coasts
Solanum crispum Ruiz & Pav. (Chilean Nightshade - GBIF, Chilean Potato Vine, Chilean Potato Tree, Potato-vine - Wikipedia) General
Solanum tuberosum L. (Potato) - General
Solanum lycopersicum L. (Stace) Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. (NBN) (Tomato) / General
Solanum laciniatum (Kangaroo-apple) - Rupert Higgins General
Solanum sisymbriifolium Lam. (Red Buffalo-bur) - [Sandwith, 1932] General
Solanum rostratum Dunal (Buffalo-bur) General
Nicotiana rustica L. (Wild Tobacco) 1912 General
Nicotiana alata Link & Otto (Sweet Tobacco) /- General
Nicotiana alata x forgetiana = N. x sanderae W. Watson (N. × sanderi Mast. - Kew, GBIF) (Sweet x Red Tobacco) General
Nicotiana forgetiana Hemsl. (Red Tobacco) General
Nicotiana sylvestris Speg. & Comes (Woodland Tobacco) General
Petunia axillaris x P. integrifolia = P. x hybrida (Petunia axillaris × P. inflata = P. × atkinsiana (Sweet) D. Don ex W.H. Baxter) (Petunia) - Rupert Higgins General

Species to be added:

Hyoscyamus albus L. (White Henbane) /
Datura ferox L. (Longspine Thorn-apple) /
Physalis ixocarpa Brot. ex Hornem. (Tomatillo) /
Alkekengi officinarum Moench (var. officinarum - Kew, GBIF) (Chinese-lantern) - [on DB as Physalis alkekengi] /
Capsicum annuum L. (var. annuum - Kew, GBIF) (Sweet Pepper) - [Sandwith, 1932] /
Solanum villosum Mill. ssp. villosum (Red Nightshade) - [Sandwith, 1932 (as S. suffruticosum)] /
Solanum villosum Mill. ssp. miniatum (Bernh. ex Willd.) (Red Nightshade) - [Sandwith, 1932 (as S. alatum)] /
Solanum chenopodioides Lam. (Tall Nightshade) / - 1 BSBI record /
Solanum sarrachoides Sendtn. (Leafy-fruited Nightshade) - [Sandwith, 1932] /
Solanum pseudocapsicum L. (Winter-cherry, Jerusalem-cherry - NBN) [on DB as S. capsicastrum] /
Solanum dulcamara L. var. marinum Bab. (Bittersweet / Woody Nightshade) /
Solanum crispum Ruiz & Pav. (Chilean Nightshade - GBIF, Chilean Potato Vine, Chilean Potato Tree, Potato-vine - Wikipedia) /
Solanum laciniatum (Kangaroo-apple) - Rupert Higgins /
Solanum sisymbriifolium Lam. (Red Buffalo-bur) - [Sandwith, 1932] /
Nicotiana alata x forgetiana = N. x sanderae W. Watson (N. × sanderi Mast. - Kew, GBIF) (Sweet x Red Tobacco) /
Nicotiana sylvestris Speg. & Comes (Woodland Tobacco) /
Petunia axillaris x P. integrifolia = P. x hybrida (Petunia axillaris × P. inflata = P. × atkinsiana (Sweet) D. Don ex W.H. Baxter) (Petunia) - Rupert Higgins /

Useful Links:

Solanaceae Source