Red nightshade

Solanum villosum

Family: Solanaceae Genus: Solanum Species: villosum

Synonyms: Solanum luteovirescens, Solanum olivaceum, Solanum incanum, Solanum rubrum, Solanum nigrum subsp. luteovirescens, Solanum olgae, Solanum ochroleucum var. flavum, Solanum luteum var. miniatibaccatum, Solanum miniatum var. villosissimum, Solanum luteum var. procerum, Solanum nigrum var. croceum, Solanum nigrum subsp. villosum, Solanum nigrum var. suffruticosum, Solanum cerinum, Solanum nilagiricum, Solanum nigrum var. aurantium, Solanum pseudovillosum, Witheringia rubra, Solanum zelenetzkii, Solanum nigrum var. ochroleucum, Solanum nigrum f. villosum, Solanum plebeium, Solanum ochroleucum, Solanum villosum subsp. ochroleucum, Solanum minutiflorum, Solanum villosum var. laevigatum, Solanum arenarium, Solanum villosum var. miniatum, Solanum miniatum, Solanum nigrum f. glabrum, Solanum nigrum subvar. ochroleucum, Solanum plebeium var. brachysepalum, Solanum flavum, Solanum villosum f. miniatum, Solanum nigrum var. sancti-marini, Solanum carmanicum, Solanum puniceum, Solanum nigrum subsp. luteum, Solanum incertum, Solanum miniatum var. stenopetalum, Solanum luteum f. miniatibaccatum, Solanum miniatum var. subserratum, Solanum luteum var. calvum, Solanum aegyptiacum, Solanum nigrum var. luteum, Solanum nigrum var. rubrum, Solanum nigrum aegyptiacum, Solanum transcaucasicum, Solanum villosum var. miniatibaccatum, Solanum nigrum var. villosum, Solanum viridescens, Solanum luteum, Solanum flavum humile, Solanum nigrum subsp. puniceum, Solanum nigrum subsp. ochroleucum, Solanum nigrum subsp. humile, Solanum nigrum f. angulosum, Solanum morella subsp. luteum, Solanum hildebrandtii, Solanum canescens, Solanum nigrum var. induratum, Solanum vulgatum var. luteum, Solanum villosum subvar. miniatum, Solanum plebeium var. subtile, Solanum nigrum subsp. miniatum, Solanum nigrum f. humile, Solanum kitaibelii, Solanum morella var. flavum, Solanum woronowii, Solanum villosum var. velutinum, Solanum villosum subsp. puniceum, Solanum patens, Solanum erythraeum, Solanum suffruticosum, Solanum villosum subsp. miniatum, Solanum purpureilineatum, Solanum luteum subsp. villosum, Solanum sinaicum, Solanum nigrum var. miniatum

Red nightshade (en)

Western Herbalism Properties

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Botanical Description

Solanum villosum, commonly known as red nightshade or hairy nightshade, is an annual or short-lived perennial herb of the family Solanaceae, belonging to the taxonomically complex Solanum nigrum aggregate. It is native to southern Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia, and naturalised in many other warm temperate regions. The plant typically grows 20–70 cm tall, with much-branched, ascending to spreading stems that are densely clothed with simple and glandular hairs, giving the plant a softly villous, often viscid appearance. The leaves are alternate, ovate to rhombic-ovate, 2–7 cm long, with sinuate-dentate or coarsely toothed margins, somewhat soft, dull mid-green and hairy on both surfaces. The inflorescence is a small umbel-like cyme of 3–8 small flowers borne on a short axillary peduncle; each flower has a five-lobed white corolla 6–10 mm across with bright yellow exserted anthers. The fruit is a globose berry 6–10 mm across, ripening from green through orange to bright red or yellow-orange (not black as in S. nigrum), borne on a reflexed pedicel.

Native Region: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Austria, Azores, Baleares, Belarus, Bulgaria, Burundi, Canary Is., Cape Verde, Central European Rus, Chad, China North-Central, Corse, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Djibouti, East Aegean Is., East Himalaya, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Gulf States, Hungary, India, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kirgizstan, Kriti, Krym, Lebanon-Syria, Libya, Madeira, Malawi, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, North Caucasus, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Portugal, Qinghai, Romania, Sardegna, Saudi Arabia, Sicilia, Sinai, Somalia, South European Russi, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tadzhikistan, Tanzania, Tibet, Transcaucasus, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkey-in-Europe, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, West Himalaya, Western Sahara, Xinjiang, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Cultural & Historical Context

Traditional American Uses

None Documented

Chemistry & External Identifiers

Trefle ID

269865

Important Disclaimer

This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.

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