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This species appears on the following legally prohibited plant lists

UF-IFAS Assessment of Non-Native Plants in Florida’s Natural Areas

CATEGORY I on the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council’s (FLEPPC) 2017 List of Invasive Plant Species

More Info: Plant Management in Florida Waters

Download a recognition card (PDF) from Invasive and Non-native Plants You Should Know2

Download a page (PDF) from Identification and Biology of Nonnative Plants in Florida’s Natural Areas – Second Edition1

EDIS Document: Natural Area Weeds: Invasive Solanum spp. in Florida (PDF) by L. T. Markle, W. A. Overholt, and K. A. Langeland (2014)

Control information: Integrated Management of Nonnative Plants in Natural Areas of Florida (EDIS publication SP 242)3

Wetland nightshade (AKA aquatic soda apple) is found growing in floodplain forests of the central peninsula and Monroe County. It is native to the West Indies, Mexico, and Central America and blooms in the fall (Wunderlin, 2003).

Appearance

Straggly and sprawling prickly shrub, woody below; herbaceous above, with prickly green stems to 5 m (16 ft) long and 1.5 cm (0.5 in) in diameter.

Leaves

Alternate, simple, with petioles to 3 cm (1.5 in) long; blades longer than wide, to 25 cm (10 in) long and 7 cm (3 in) wide, with deeply round-indented (sinuate) margins, recurved or straight prickles on veins, and stellate hairs.

Flowers

Small; 3 to 11 individual flowers in stalked, branched clusters at leaf axils; petals white, mostly free (fused only at base), spreading or often recurved; stamens with yellow anthers held closely and erect in center of flower.

Fruit

A small, spherical, tomato-like berry to 1 cm (0.4 in) wide, shiny solid green turning orange then bright red at maturity, with 10 to 60 yellowish, flat-round seeds.

Text from Invasive and Non-native Plants You Should Know – Recognition Cards 1

Refer theUF/IFAS Invasive Species Management Plans for Florida to learn more about Solanum spp. management.

View more information and pictures about wetland nightshade, as contained in the Langeland/Burks book, Identification & Biology of Non-Native Plants in Florida’s Natural Areas.

View the herbarium specimen image from the University of Florida Herbarium Digital Imaging Projects.

Citations

1. Invasive and Non-native Plants You Should Know – Recognition Cards,
by A. Richard and V. Ramey. University of Florida-IFAS Publication # SP 431. 2007.

2. Identification and Biology of Nonnative Plants in Florida’s Natural Areas – Second Edition,
by K.A. Langeland, H.M. Cherry, et al. University of Florida-IFAS Publication # SP 257. 2008.

3. Integrated Management of Nonnative Plants in Natural Areas of Florida, by K. A. Langeland, J. A. Ferrell, B. Sellers, G. E. MacDonald, and R. K. Stocker. University of Florida-IFAS Publication # SP 242. 2011.

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