Black Nightshade

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Seedling.  Key characteristics: hypocotyl has hairs; often, the underside of the leaves will have maroon-colored markings; leaves are alternate.

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Vegetative plant.  Key characteristics: leaf margins range from entire to having coarse teeth; stems are often maroon-black in color; leaves often have "shot-hole" appearance from flea beetle feeding activity.  Leaf hair varies depending upon species.

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Flower.  Key characteristics: white, star-shaped, and occur in clusters.

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Fruit.  Key characteristics: occur in clusters, round, change from green to black at maturity.  Green fruit is toxic.

  

Seed of Solanum ptycanthum are rounded, rough-textured and have a diameter of approximately 1.5 mm.

Life cycle: summer annual.