Plants of Louisiana

Solanum dimidiatum

western horsenettle, torrey's nightshade, torrey nightshade, western horse-nettle
Family

Solanaceae

Leaf Arrangement

alternate

Leaf Attachment

petiolate

Leaf Margin

lobed

Leaf Type

simple

Leaf Shape

elliptic, lanceolate, ovate

Growth Form

forb

Flower Color

blue, purple, white

Flower Month

May - October

Height (meters)

0.0 - 1.0

Milky Sap

No

Armed/Unarmed

Armed

Origin

native

Lifespan

perennial

Growing Season

Warm season

Prairie Coefficient of Conservatism

6

Animal Use

The following information is for the genus Solanum: Animals that eat its fruit: Wood duck, Sora rail, Eastern white-winged dove, Bobwhite quail, Wild turkey, Cardinal, Catbird, Eastern meadowlark, Mockingbird, Fox sparrow, Golden-crowned sparrow, Swamp sparrow, White-crowned sparrow, Hermit thrush, Brown towee, Raccoon, Eastern skunk, Spotted skunk. Animals that eat its fruit and leaves: Pocket gopher, Moles, Pocket mouse (Martin et al. 1951).

Natural History

A rare species in Louisiana. Those plants collected in south Louisiana were on railroad prairie remnants and may have been adventive.

Habitat

Fields, open woodlands, pastures, waste places, sandy or light soils.