Carolina Horse Nettle, Bull Nettle, Devil's Tomato - Solanum carolinense
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Solanum carolinense - Carolina Horse Nettle, Bull Nettle, Devil's Tomato. Not a true nettle, this is a member of the nightshade genus which includes the garden tomato. The Solanaceae family includes the Irish potato. In spite of the edible cousins, do not eat any part of this plant; as with most nightshades it is highly poisonous.
In spite of being a native plant, the deep-rooted and persistent Solanum carolinense is listed as a noxious weed in 7 of the 44 states where it is found.
Found in:
AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV
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Distribution of Solanum carolinense in the United States and Canada:
Map courtesy of The Biota of North America Program.
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| | Site: Walker County, GA Date: 2009-June-07 | Photographer: Gerald C Williamson | | The blossom of Carolina Horse Nettle is white to pale violet with long yellow anthers. | | 
| | Site: Robertson County, TN Date: 2013-July-13 | Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D7000 | | | | Click on the photo for a larger image
| | Site: Walker County, GA Date: 2009-July-09 | Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D60 | | Carolina Horse Nettle is weak-stemmed and can be sprawling, or erect to about 3 feed tall. The stems, petioles, and central leaf vein, and occasionally the leaf margins, have sharp and painful prickles. The leaves are usually shallowly lobed and up to about 5 inches long. They are pubescent on the upper surface and have sessile stellate (star-shaped) hairs on the lower surface. | | Click on the photo for a larger image
| | Site: Gordon Coundy, GA Date: 2009-August-16 | Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D60 | | The unripe fruit of Solanum carolinense is green with pale green stripes (or maybe vice versa,) and is less than 20mm in diameter. The fruit of the similar Solanum viarum and S. capsicoides are more than 20mm. These fruits can be deadly poisonous if eaten. | | Click on the photo for a larger image
| | Site: Walker County, GA Date: 2018-November-03 | Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D7000 | | The fruit of Carolina Horse Nettle is yellow when ripe. These are 12mm to 15mm in diameter; they may be up to 20mm. These fruits can be deadly poisonous if eaten. | | Click on the photo for a larger image
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References used for identification and information:
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