https://www.gardenology.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Carolina_horsenettleCarolina horsenettle - Revision history2026-04-09T23:08:11ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.0https://www.gardenology.org/w/index.php?title=Carolina_horsenettle&diff=2027&oldid=prevWikiWorks at 11:38, 4 April 20072007-04-04T11:38:06Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Taxobox<br />
| color = lightgreen<br />
| name = Carolina horsenettle<br />
| image = Horsenettle1846.JPG<br />
| image_width = 240px<br />
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae<br />
| divisio = [[Magnoliophyta]]<br />
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]<br />
| subclassis = [[Asteridae]]<br />
| ordo = [[Solanales]]<br />
| familia = [[Solanaceae]]<br />
| genus = ''[[Solanum]]''<br />
| species = '''''S. carolinense'''''<br />
| binomial = ''Solanum carolinense''<br />
| binomial_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]<br />
}}<br />
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'''Carolina horsenettle''' (''Solanum carolinense''), also known as '''Bull nettle''', '''Carolina horse nettle''', '''Horse nettle''', '''Apple of Sodom''', '''Radical Weed''', ''' Sand Brier''' and, '''Tread-softly''', is not a true [[nettle]], but a member of the [[Solanaceae]], or [[nightshade]] family. It is known for producing painful spines along the stems that penetrate the skin and break off. It is a perennial, herbaceous [[plant]] native to southeastern [[United States]] that has [[Invasive species|spread widely]] throughout [[North America]].<br />
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[[Image:Flowering_deadly_nightshade_plant_early_morning.jpg|thumb|left|Young plant showing leaves and flowers. Notice the spines on the stem.]] <br />
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Leaves are alternate, elliptic-oblong to oval, and each is irregularly lobed or coarsely toothed. Both surfaces are covered with fine hairs. The [[flower]]s have five petals and are usually white or purple with yellow centers, though there is a blue variant that resembles the [[tomato]] flower. The [[fruit]]s also resemble tomatoes. The immature fruit is dark green with light green stripes, turning yellow and wrinkled as it matures. Each fruit contains around 60 [[seed]]s. It flowers throughout the summer, from April to October.<br />
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All parts of the plant are [[poison]]ous. Children and cattle have been poisoned by eating the green fruit. The mature fruit is reputedly non-poisonous or less poisonous.<br />
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These plants can be found growing in pastures, roadsides, [[railroad]] margins, and in disturbed areas and waste ground. They grow to about 1 m tall, but are typically shorter, existing as subshrubs. They prefer sandy or [[loam]]y soils.<br />
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Carolina horsenettle is considered a noxious weed in several US states. It can spread vegetatively by underground [[rhizome]]s as well as by seed. It is resistant to many [[herbicide]]s; in fact, herbicide use often selects for horsenettle by removing competing weeds. It is an especially despised weed by gardeners who hand weed as the spines tend to penetrate the skin and then break off when the plant is grasped. The deep root also makes it difficult to remove.<br />
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Horsenettle is also written "horse nettle" or "horse-nettle", though USDA publications usually use horsenettle. Other common names include Wild tomato, Devil's tomato and Sand Briar.<br />
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[[Image:Horse nettle berries.jpg|thumb|300pxc|Horsenettle berries]]<br />
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==References==<br />
* [http://www.missouriplants.com/Whitealt/Solanum_carolinense_page.html ''Solanum carolinense''] information with several excellent pictures.<br />
* [http://uvalde.tamu.edu/herbarium/soca.htm Carolina Horse Nettle]<br />
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[[Category:Solanum]]<br />
[[Category:Medicinal plants]]<br />
[[Category:Poisonous plants]]<br />
[[Category:Invasive species]]</div>WikiWorks