Solanum emulans Raf.

Locations ofSolanum emulans Raf. in Virginia

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Detail

Family
Solanaceae
Botanical Name
Solanum emulans Raf.
Common Name
Eastern Black Nightshade
Synonym(s)
Solanum ptycanthum Dunal; Solanum americanum Mill., misapplied
Flora of Virginia Name/Status
Solanum ptychanthum Dunal
Comments
According to Knapp et al. (2019, PhytoKeys 123: 1-144) Solanum emulans Raf. is the correct name for our common eastern black nightshade. Evidently, the type of Solanum ptycanthum is plant of another species, S. americanum, that occurs to the south and west of our area. Confusing matters, the name S. americanum was more broadly applied to include S. ptycanthum until Schilling (1981) split the latter out as a separate species. For long, excruciating discussions of the voluminous Solanum nomenclature, see Knapp et al. (2019).
Habitat
Dry-mesic and dry upland forests and woodlands, shaded rock outcrops, well-drained floodplain forests, seasonally exposed riverside bars, and dune grasslands; also in fields and other weedy, open habitats. Frequent throughout.
Native Status
Native

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