Solanum Species, Black Nightshade, Eastern Black Nightshade, West Indian Nightshade

One of these showed up in a container under the shade of a black willow one day, and I kept it because it's native and actually kind of p...Read Moreretty, despite its status as a weed. The leaves are soft and somewhat velvety, with an aesthetically pleasing, wavy shape.

The fruits are round, about a quarter of an inch in diameter, and black when ripe, with some lighter black mottling. They're completely hidden under the leaves, so you have to push aside the leaves to find them.

After reading that the ripe fruits are somewhat edible, I decided to try one. Pretty tasty. The taste and texture is almost exactly like a tart blueberry. There are conflicting reports about whether the eastern black nightshade is edible or poisonous, and Edible and Useful Plants of Texas and the Southwest says that its toxicity is variable depending on variety and geographical location, so as with all potentially poisonous plants, start with very small amounts at a time, with plenty of time in between samples, then work your way up in small increments, and don't overdo it. If it turns out that your berries are safe to eat, they would make a terrific snack, jam, or pie.

Don't eat the green berries.

I have eaten black nightshade berries since I was a child, and by now must have consumed many kilograms of the stuff, both raw and cooked...Read More into a jam.
My experience is that it makes the best jam of any fruit I have ever tasted.
I grow it in my garden, and do so specifically for eating purposes. I have always wondered about the stories of its toxicity, one such story said that five berries can kill an adult. Well, just do not ever eat five berries, eat thousands in stead (just joking). Throughout Africa, this plant seems to be a delicacy.
Regards

Johan Blignaut

Evaluation of Antimicrobial Activity of Crude Methanol Extract of Solanum nodiflorum Jacq (Solanaceae).

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I have a whole backyard of American Black Nightshade here in SE Texas. Grows like a weed. I eat the berries right off the plant when fu...Read Morelly ripe. Admittedly not great quanities, small palm full at a time..up to 25 berries or so in a day. they do have some medicinal properties and loads of antioxidents from what authorities say. ... but there have been no effects of any kind at all. The tiny Berries can be eaten when fully ripe , no problem. Everything I have read says small amounts are healthy, and cooking into jellies jams it's great!
Not like you are consuming that much unless you live totally on PBJ sandwiches 24/7.....