Solanum pubigerum
NameSolanum pubigerum
Scientific NameSolanum pubigerum
Common NamesHairy Nightshade, Sticky Nightshade, Hierba Mora Peluda
Plant FamilySolanaceae
Natural HabitatNative to Mexico and Central America, it is now naturalized in many temperate regions worldwide. It commonly grows in disturbed areas, roadsides, fields, and waste places.
Parts Usedwhole_plant
Medicinal Actions
Traditional UsesGenerally considered toxic, Solanum pubigerum lacks widely documented safe traditional medicinal uses. Its primary significance in ethnobotany is often related to its toxicity rather than therapeutic application.
Active Constituentssteroidal glycoalkaloids, solanine, solamargine, solasonine
Preparation Methods
Contraindications & WarningsAll parts of Solanum pubigerum, especially the unripe berries, are considered highly toxic due to the presence of steroidal glycoalkaloids. Ingestion can cause severe gastrointestinal upset, neurological symptoms, and can be fatal. It should not be consumed or used internally.
Cultivation NotesOften considered a weed, Solanum pubigerum thrives in disturbed soils and can grow in full sun to partial shade. It propagates easily by seed and can be quite invasive in suitable climates.
Raritycommon
Description
An herbaceous annual or perennial plant characterized by hairy stems and leaves. It produces small, white, star-shaped flowers with prominent yellow anthers, followed by clusters of spherical berries that ripen from green to red.
