Black nightshade (Solanum nigrum L.) – an annual spring plant of the Solanaceae family, growing 8 to 90 cm tall, which grows and spreads rapidly in moist, fertile soils. Leaves are fan-shaped, egg-shaped or nearly triangular, up to 30 cm long, with toothed edges; they are covered with sparse bristle-like hairs along the main veins. The stem is upright or ascending, branched, with angular branches, and the root is a short taproot, spindle-shaped.
The plant reproduces by seeds and spores; the first seedlings appear in late April–May, flowering begins in June–September, and fruiting occurs from July to November. Fruits are black berries, multi-seeded, 1.7–2 mm in size, ripening from August to October and can be eaten raw or used for jams, jellies, and fillings.
All parts of the plant, except ripe fruits, contain toxic glycoalkaloids (solanine, solasodine), so caution is required when handling it. In folk medicine, black nightshade was used as an expectorant and diuretic, but its consumption is limited due to toxicity. The plant is considered harmful to cultivated plants, can serve as food for pests, and can carry certain viruses.
Black nightshade is widespread in many regions, including Europe, Asia, and North America; it is drought- and salt-tolerant, preferring loose soils rich in humus and nitrogen with a reaction from slightly acidic to alkaline. In agriculture, it is often considered a weed requiring careful monitoring and soil treatment to prevent crop damage.
