Solanum nigrum (European black nightshade or locally just "black nightshade", duscle, garden nightshade, hound's berry, petty morel, wonder berry, small-fruited black nightshade or popolo) is a species in the Solanum genus, native to Eurasia and introduced in the Americas, Australasia and South Africa. Parts of this plant can be highly toxic to livestock and humans, and it's considered a weed. Nonetheless, ripe berries and cooked leaves of edible strains are used as food in some locales; and plant parts are used as a traditional medicine. There is a tendency in literature to incorrectly refer to many of the other "black nightshade" species as "Solanum nigrum".[+]
S. nigrum is recorded from deposits of the Paleolithic and Mesolithic era of ancient Britain and it is suggested by the botanist and ecologist, Edward Salisbury, that it was part of the native flora there before Neolithic agriculture emerged. The species was mentioned by Pliny the Elder in the 1st century AD and by the great herbalists, including Dioscorides. In 1753 Carl Linnaeus described six varieties of Solanum nigrum in Species Plantarum. In 1820 Desfosses described the principal toxic glycoalkaloid in black nightshade, solanine, extracted from ripe berries.
Black nightshade (Solanum nigrum) near Al Bidda Park. Doha, Qatar, March 7, 2014 Corniche Street, Doha, Qatar
Black nightshade (Solanum nigrum) near Al Asmakh Street in Musheirib area. Doha, Qatar, March 21, 2014 Al Asmakh Street, Doha, Qatar
Black nightshade (Solanum nigrum) in Irkhaya Farms. South-western Qatar, March 29, 2014 Unnamed Road, Qatar
Solanum nigrum(?) on roadside of Al Istiqlal Street in West Bay. Doha, Qatar, April 22, 2014 Al Istiqlal Street, Doha, Qatar
Fruit receptacles of Solanum nigrum(?) on roadside of Al Istiqlal Street in West Bay. Doha, Qatar, April 22, 2014 Al Istiqlal Street, Doha, Qatar
Flowers of black nightshade (Solanum nigrum) on Green Circles (center-pivot irrigation) in Irkhaya (Irkaya) Farms. South-western Qatar, October 25, 2014 Salwa Road, Qatar
Fruits of black nightshade (Solanum nigrum) on Green Circles (center-pivot irrigation) in Irkhaya (Irkaya) Farms. South-western Qatar, October 25, 2014 Salwa Road, Qatar
Berries of black nightshade (Solanum nigrum) on Green Circles (center-pivot irrigation) in Irkhaya (Irkaya) Farms. South-western Qatar, October 25, 2014 Unnamed Road, Qatar
Ripe fruits of black nightshade (Solanum nigrum) taken from Green Circles (center-pivot irrigation) in Irkhaya (Irkaya) Farms. South-western Qatar, October 25, 2014
Black nightshade (Solanum nigrum) on Green Circles (center-pivot irrigation) in Irkhaya (Irkaya) Farms. South-western Qatar, November 15, 2014 Unnamed Road, Qatar
Blooming black nightshade (Solanum nigrum) near Al Khor Hospital. Qatar, December 13, 2014 Unnamed Road, Qatar
Black nightshade (Solanum nigrum) on Al Mawrid Street in Al Lejbailat area. Doha, Qatar, May 26, 2016 Al Mawrid St, Doha, Qatar
Bracts of black nightshade (Solanum nigrum)(?) taken from Onaiza area. Doha, Qatar, June 2, 2016