Texas Gardening: Texas Native Plant Pictures by color ( White ), 1 by htop

htop wrote:
American Black Nightshade, Common Nightshade, White Nightshade (Solanum americanum: now is known as Solanum ptychanthum) Solanaceae Family, native, annual or short-lived perennial, blooms early summer through fall (warm areas with no freezes - all year), flower color white or light purple (lavender), some consider it a noxious weed, poisonous

The leaves are alternate and may reach 10cm (4inches) in length and 5 cm (2inches) in width. They areovate or somewhat triangular and entire or irregularly toothed with wavy margins. The stem may be smooth or most of the stem may have have small hairs which are visable under magnification. The 5-petaled, 3/8 inch in diameter flowers have a yellow beak of stamens which droop downward. Sometimes the petals are reflexed.. It has round black fruit ( 5 -10 mm in diameter) that look like black cherry tomatoes and they contain numerous small seeds. All parts of this plant are poisonous. It is thought that the berries lose their toxicity when fully ripe and that wildlife eat them; but, other sources state that when mature they should be considered poisonous as they may contain high levels of solanine. I don't think that I will be eating any. :o)

It occurs natively in woodland edges and openings, beaches, sand dunes, stream and river flood plains, fence rows, chaparrals. Growing in various soil types, it usually can be found in disturbed, abandoned or cultivated areas.
Can be found in 6 counties in the Texas Panhandle region as well as many other counties spread across the state as shown here:
http://plants.usda.gov/java/county?state_name=Texas&statefip...

For more information, see its entry in the PlantFiles:
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/54503

The small bloom (note rain drop on petal - finally had a wonderful rain) ...