IDENTIFICATION
Annual.
Hairy nightshade is 10-90 cm tall with white, five-petal flowers
similar to the tomato plant. It has a dense covering of short hairs on
the egg-shaped leaves and stems and it can feel sticky to the touch. Fruit
is a yellowish-brown berry half covered by modified leaves.
DAMAGE
Hairy nightshade is a common weed of disturbed habitats and cultivated
fields. Berries frequently become mixed with agricultural crops, decreasing
their value, and the plant produces a sticky substance that can clog agricultural
equipment. It contains toxic alkaloids, especially in the berries, that
can poison livestock and are toxic to humans.
HABITAT
In British Columbia, hairy nightshade is found at low - mid-elevations
on dry sites on a variety of soils. It is commonly found on disturbed
soils such as roadsides, rights-of-way, overgrazed rangeland, as well
as cultivated fields, flower and vegetable gardens.
SPREAD
Berries and seeds are dispersed by rodents, birds, livestock, humans,
and along watercourses.
