Scientific Family
Solanaceae
Synonyms
Nycterium violaceum Engelm. ex Walp., Solanum chrysacanthum Dunal
Other common names
New Mexican nightshade
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Annual
Height
12 to 28 inches
Riparian
Yes
Covered with fine, straw-colored prickles and some gland-tipped hairs; deeply twice divided leaves with rounded lobes; deep purple to blue flowers which have the same size and shape as tomato plant flowers.
Annual; taproot; stems branching; hairy and prickly; alternate leaves; blades deeply dissected; rounded lobes; flowers clustered at branch tips; 5 lobed, purple to blue; stamens bright yellow; purple-tinged anther on longest stamen.
Habitat
Found on silty, sandy, or gravelly soils of dunes, stream beds, washes, and open hillsides.
Plant Community
Riparian
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Interior Chaparral
Grasslands
Desert Scrub
Low elevation
2000
High elevation
6000
Flower Characteristics
Few flowered clusters at branch tips; 3/4 inch long; sepals densely spiny; 5 lobed; 3/4 to 1 inch long; triangular; flowers 3/4 inch diameter; 5-petaled; stamens bright yellow; purple-tinged anther on longest stamen.
Flower color
Purple, blue
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
No
First bloom month
June
Last bloom month
October
Flower clusters
Rounded
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Alternate; spine-covered stems and leaf stalks; stalks 1/16 to 1/2 inch long; leaves 1-1/2 to 4-1/4 inches long, deeply dissected, rounded lobes, gland-tipped hairs on upper surface, irregular star-like hairs on lower surface; scattered spines on veins.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Round or oval
Leaf margin
Dissected
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
Yes
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Spherical, roughly 1/3 inch in diameter; closely wrapped by the persistent calyx (sepals), which is densely armed with prickles.
Fruit type
Berry-like
Lens-shaped, 1/8 inch long, dark brown.