Common names:
Tropical nightshade, forked nightshade
Family:
Scientific name:
Solanum furcatum
Main flower color:
Range:
Scattered areas along the coast of California and Oregon (non-native)
Height:
Between 20 and 50 inches
Habitat:
Open locations, disturbed ground; below 500 feet
Leaves:
Ovate, up to 2.7 inches long; entire or sparsely toothed
Season:
May to October
The corolla lobes of solanum furcatum are white (less often pale pink), do not have green spots at the base, are usually strongly angled backwards, and are typically much longer than the tubular part of the corolla - all features which help identify the plant from others in this genus. This species originates in South America, and has been established along the coast of central/north California and Oregon.
Stem and leaves have a light covering of very short hairs. Hairs are curved, but not branched. Leaves are often dark along the edges, which may be entire or lined by a few teeth, irregular in size.
The inflorescence is a forked cluster containing a small number of flowers. Corolla lobes are greenish-yellow around the base, otherwise white or pale pink. The flower center is formed of a cluster of long yellow anthers around a protruding style, topped by a head-shaped stigma.
Stem and leaves have a light covering of very short hairs. Hairs are curved, but not branched. Leaves are often dark along the edges, which may be entire or lined by a few teeth, irregular in size.
The inflorescence is a forked cluster containing a small number of flowers. Corolla lobes are greenish-yellow around the base, otherwise white or pale pink. The flower center is formed of a cluster of long yellow anthers around a protruding style, topped by a head-shaped stigma.
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