Brazilian nightshade
Solanum seaforthianum
Solanaceae
Ornamental
Brazillian nightshade is a very aggressive woody vine with the capacity to invade natural forests, natural grasslands, forest margins, urban bushland, riverbanks, crops, pastures, roadsides, disturbed sites, and waste areas. Once established, Brazilian nightshade is able to grow forming dense monocultures that overtop and smother native plant species. Leaves arearranged alternately and leaf margins are lobed, while flowers are mauve or purple and fruit are glossy red berries 8-12 mm across. Seed is spread via birds and water. It prefers well drained soils with high organic matter content and pH ranging from 5.6 to 6.5 in sunny areas with temperatures ranging from 20°C to 35°C. The fruit is known to be poisonous, with children and poultry adversely affected after eating fruit. Cattle, pigs and sheep have also been affected.
Brazilian nightshade is affected by eggplant mosaic virus, which causes mottling, vein-banding, and little or no distortion. Brazilian nightshade is impacted by powdery mildew, rots, both early and late blight, damping off and certain virus diseases. Insects include aphids, whiteflies, spider mites and thrips (Missouri Botanical Garden). Various butterflies have been observed on this plant, however it is reported to not produce nectar. Some butterflies are known to feed on honeydew (sweet insect secretion). Various sap sucking pests in the order Hemiptera are known to feed on cultivated solanaceae plants. It is possible that shield and vegetable bugs feed on Brazilian nightshade as well.