Scientific Family
Solanaceae
Other common names
purple nightshade
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
To 3 feet
Riparian
No
A bushy plant that is woody at the base with dark green hairy leaves and dark lavender crinkled flowers.
Fruit not closely invested by a calyx, foliage and calyx not covered with whitish scales and a purple corolla(petals), distinguish this from other Solanum sp.
Habitat
Rocky slopes, mostly in chaparral.
Plant Community
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Interior Chaparral
Grasslands
Desert Scrub
Low elevation
3000
High elevation
7000
Flower Characteristics
The star-like flowers are deep violet to dark lavender with 5 united, crinkled petals and 5 bright yellow stamens. They are to 1 inch wide in small clusters.
Flower color
Purple, blue
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
No
First bloom month
April
Last bloom month
November
Flower clusters
Other
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
The leaves are occasionally lobed to 3 inches long. The leaves and stems have soft hairs.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Dark green
Leaf shape
Round or oval
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
The round berries are to 1/2 inch in diameter.
Fruit type
Berry-like
Fruit color
Green
The numerous seeds are yellowish-brown to less than 1/16 inch.