Nightshade
(Solanum nigrum)
Nightshade
Nightshade
Selection
Select leaves just before flowering and before the leaves harden. Be mindful and check for any known poisonous varieties or parts of the plant.
Storage
Keep dry in a well-ventilated place. Can be sun-dried for longer storage.
Preparation
- Wash leaves well before eating.
- The leaves are best eaten young in salads or cookedas a vegetable.
- Do not eat the berries, which are poisonous.
- (Bailey, 1992; Edmonds & Chweya, 1997)
Photo Source
Wikimedia.org
Nightshade
Nightshade plants grow like a weed and thrive in damp,shady places in cool, wet weather. Black nightshade is just one of the many varieties in the Nightshade family. The young leaves are eaten, but the berries contain an alkaloid, called atropine, which is poisonous when ingested (Bailey, 1992).
Traditional Names
- Hawaiian – pōpolo