Solanum dulcamaraL. Bittersweet

Solanum dulcamaraL. - Bittersweet

Scientific Description:

Scrambling perennial, subglabrous to pubescent or densely villous. Stem to 200 cm, woody below. Leaves petiolate, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, lamina 3−12 × 2−6 cm, apex acute to acuminate, cordate to truncate at base, entire or rarely some with one or two opposite lobes at base. Calyx 2−3 mm, teeth triangular. Corolla violet, 10−15 mm, lobes lanceolate-triangular, recurved, each with 2 green basal spots. Anthers 5 mm, golden yellow. Berry red, shining, ovoid-globose, 7−10 mm.

 

Flowering time: May−September.

Habitat: Edges of lakes, marshes or swamps, dry stream beds, s.l.−2300 m.

 

Reference:

Baytop A (1978). Solanum dulcamara L., In: Davis PH (ed.), Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 6: 441.

Public Description:

Solanum dulcamara, known as “bittersweet” or “climbing nightshade” , is distributed in most of Europe, North Africa and Eastern Asia. It is a herbaceous perennial plant with violet flowers and can be reach up 2 m. It blooms between May and September and is found in edges of lakes, marshes or swamps, dry stream beds. In medieval times, the plant was thought to be effective against the witchcraft, and was sometimes hung around the neck of cattle to protect them from the "evil eye". It's a poisonous plant.

 

References:

Anonymous 1 (2016) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solanum_dulcamara /,Accessed date: 07.11.2016.

Anonymous 2 (2016) http://www.eddmaps.org/ipane/ipanespecies/vines/Solanum_dulcamara.htm/,Accessed date: 07.11.2016.

Güner A (2012) Solanum L., In: Güner, A., Aslan, S., Ekim, T., Vural, M. & Babaç, M.T. (eds.), Türkiye Bitkileri Listesi (Damarlı Bitkiler). Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanik Bahçesi ve Flora Araştırmaları Derneği Yayını. İstanbul, pp. 873.