Carolina horsenettle

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Plant Info
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Scientific classification
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Binomial name
Solanum carolinense L.
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Synonyms
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Carolina horsenettle (Solanum carolinense), also known as Bull nettle, Carolina horse nettle, Horse nettle, Apple of Sodom, Radical Weed, Sand Brier and, Tread-softly, is not a true nettle, but a member of the Solanaceae, or nightshade family. It is known for producing painful spines along the stems that penetrate the skin and break off. It is a perennial, herbaceous plant native to southeastern United States that has spread widely throughout North America.

Young plant showing leaves and flowers. Notice the spines on the stem.

Leaves are alternate, elliptic-oblong to oval, and each is irregularly lobed or coarsely toothed. Both surfaces are covered with fine hairs. The flowers have five petals and are usually white or purple with yellow centers, though there is a blue variant that resembles the tomato flower. The fruits also resemble tomatoes. The immature fruit is dark green with light green stripes, turning yellow and wrinkled as it matures. Each fruit contains around 60 seeds. It flowers throughout the summer, from April to October.

All parts of the plant are poisonous. Children and cattle have been poisoned by eating the green fruit. The mature fruit is reputedly non-poisonous or less poisonous.

These plants can be found growing in pastures, roadsides, railroad margins, and in disturbed areas and waste ground. They grow to about 1 m tall, but are typically shorter, existing as subshrubs. They prefer sandy or loamy soils.

Carolina horsenettle is considered a noxious weed in several US states. It can spread vegetatively by underground rhizomes as well as by seed. It is resistant to many herbicides; in fact, herbicide use often selects for horsenettle by removing competing weeds. It is an especially despised weed by gardeners who hand weed as the spines tend to penetrate the skin and then break off when the plant is grasped. The deep root also makes it difficult to remove.

Horsenettle is also written "horse nettle" or "horse-nettle", though USDA publications usually use horsenettle. Other common names include Wild tomato, Devil's tomato and Sand Briar.

Horsenettle berries

References

• Solanum carolinense information with several excellent pictures.
• Carolina Horse Nettle