Solanum nigrum - Flora of Qatar

Solanum atriplicifolium, Solanum cuneifolium, Solanum decipiens, Solanum dillenii, Solanum humile, Solanum judaicum, Solanum morella, Solanum moschatum, Solanum papilionaceum, Solanum pseudoflavum, Solanum repens, Solanum schultesii, Solanum suffruticosum, Solanum villosum, Solanum vulgare, Solanum vulgatum

Common names

Extract from Wikipedia article

Solanum nigrum (European black nightshade or locally just "black nightshade", duscle, garden nightshade, hound's berry, petty morel, wonder berry, small-fruited black nightshade or popolo) is a species in the Solanum genus, native to Eurasia and introduced in the Americas, Australasia and South Africa. Parts of this plant can be highly toxic to livestock and humans, and it's considered a weed. Nonetheless, ripe berries and cooked leaves of edible strains are used as food in some locales; and plant parts are used as a traditional medicine. There is a tendency in literature to incorrectly refer to many of the other "black nightshade" species as "Solanum nigrum".[+]

S. nigrum is recorded from deposits of the Paleolithic and Mesolithic era of ancient Britain and it is suggested by the botanist and ecologist, Edward Salisbury, that it was part of the native flora there before Neolithic agriculture emerged. The species was mentioned by Pliny the Elder in the 1st century AD and by the great herbalists, including Dioscorides. In 1753 Carl Linnaeus described six varieties of Solanum nigrum in Species Plantarum. In 1820 Desfosses described the principal toxic glycoalkaloid in black nightshade, solanine, extracted from ripe berries.

AI-generated description

Solanum nigrum, also known as black nightshade, is an annual herb native to Eurasia and North Africa. It has been found in Qatar, where it grows as a weed in cultivated fields, gardens, and waste areas. In Qatar, S. nigrum typically flowers from February to May, producing small, white or purple flowers followed by shiny black berries. The plant is considered invasive and can be toxic if ingested, as it contains solanine alkaloids. Local studies have reported its presence in various regions of Qatar, including Doha and Al Rayyan, often associated with human activities such as agriculture and urbanization.

Fruit receptacles of Solanum nigrum(?) on roadside of Al Istiqlal Street in West Bay. Doha, Qatar, April 22, 2014

Al Istiqlal Street, Doha, Qatar

Flowers of black nightshade (Solanum nigrum) on Green Circles (center-pivot irrigation) in Irkhaya (Irkaya) Farms. South-western Qatar, October 25, 2014

Salwa Road, Qatar

Fruits of black nightshade (Solanum nigrum) on Green Circles (center-pivot irrigation) in Irkhaya (Irkaya) Farms. South-western Qatar, October 25, 2014

Salwa Road, Qatar

Berries of black nightshade (Solanum nigrum) on Green Circles (center-pivot irrigation) in Irkhaya (Irkaya) Farms. South-western Qatar, October 25, 2014

Unnamed Road, Qatar

Ripe fruits of black nightshade (Solanum nigrum) taken from Green Circles (center-pivot irrigation) in Irkhaya (Irkaya) Farms. South-western Qatar, October 25, 2014

Black nightshade (Solanum nigrum) on Green Circles (center-pivot irrigation) in Irkhaya (Irkaya) Farms. South-western Qatar, November 15, 2014

Unnamed Road, Qatar

AI-generated summary of observations

Observations of Solanum nigrum in Qatar reveal its presence in various locations, including Al Bidda Park, Musheirib area, Irkhaya Farms, and West Bay. The plant was found growing near roadsides, in parks, and on farmlands with center-pivot irrigation. Flowers and fruits were observed in different stages of development, from blooming to ripe berries. The plant was spotted in different months, including March, April, October, November, December, May, and June, indicating its ability to grow and thrive throughout the year in Qatar's climate. Locations with irrigation, such as Green Circles in Irkhaya Farms, seemed to support the growth of Solanum nigrum, with multiple observations of the plant in these areas.

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Acknowledgements

QNHG (Qatar Natural History Group) and associated people, for a possibility to participate in their field excursions and to learn about local nature.

Solanum nigrum L.

Synonyms