Solanum umbelliferum

Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

Solanum umbelliferum, Esch. (S. californicum, Dun.). A densely villous rarely glabrate shrub, lvs. entire, usually obovate or oblong, rarely oval or ovate, 1/2 - 1 or 2 in. long: fls. in umbel-like terminal clusters; corolla pale violet or sometimes white, pubescent on the outer surface, 3/4 in. diam., showy and fragrant: berry large, purple. Calif.—The plant offered as S. umbellatum is very likely this species. The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

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Plant Info
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Scientific classification
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Binomial name
Solanum umbelliferum Eschsch.
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The small perennial shrub Solanum umbelliferum is known commonly as the blue witch nightshade, sometimes spelled bluewitch. It is one of many species of nightshade in genus Solanum, which also includes domesticated plants such as tomato, potato, and eggplant. Blue witch has dark gray-green oval-shaped leaves on hairy green stems that grow to a maximum height of one meter. It has bright purple or blue frilly flowers with thick yellow carpels at the center. The flowers close into spherical buds overnight. It bears small round green fruits which turn purple when ripe and resemble tiny eggplants.

Blue witch can be found in chaparral habitat and low-elevation oak woodlands in California and parts of Arizona. It is a tough shrub which can grow in rocky and clay soils and springs up in areas recovering from wildfires or other disturbances. Like most other members of genus Solanum, S. umbelliferum contains toxic alkaloids.