Common Name: Silverleaf Nightshade

General Information

Solanum elaeagnifolium is an erect, herbaceous perennial plant, becoming more or less woody near the base. A deep-rooted species, with new shoots growing from underground horizontal stems, it forms a cluster of sparsely to densely prickly, branched stems around 20 - 50cm tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food.
A widespread and invasive plant in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. It is toxic to livestock and very hard to control, as rootstocks less than 1 cm long can regenerate into plants. Introduced and invasive in drier habitats in southern (South Africa and Namibia) and northern (Morocco and Egypt) Africa, in South Africa classified as a noxious weed and a quarantine pest in northern Africa; also known from dry areas around the Mediterranean[]..

Known Hazards

Although providing many well-known foods for people, including the potato, tomato, pepper and aubergine, most species in this genus also contain toxic alkaloids. Whilst these alkaloids can make the plant useful in treaing a range of medical conditions, they can also cause problems such as nausea, vomiting, salivation, drowsiness, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, weakness and respiratory depression[].
Unless there are specific entries with information on edible uses, it would be unwise to ingest any part of this plant[].

Botanical References

Range

N. America - Washington to Nebraska, Illinois & N. Carolina, south to southen Mexico, Texas & Florida; S. America - Chile, Argentina, Parauay, Uruguay

Habitat

Deserts and dry zones[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Height	0.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

The plant appears to prefer loamy soils on the dry side, but is found on virtually all soil types, except for deep sands. It is shade tolerant, becoming quite abundant under trees and beside farm buildings[].
Flowering and fruiting throughout the year[].

Edible Uses

Fruit[]. The fruit is also used as a rennet for curdling milks[, ]. The mature fruit is a spherical, yellow to dark orange berry 6 - 12mm in diameter[].

Medicinal

Raw seedpods - eaten or boiled into a syrup and taken as a laxative[]. Does this refer to the berry?[].
The crushed, dried fruits are used as a treatment for colds[].
The fruit is chewed over an aching tooth[].

An infusion of the plant is taken by nursing mothers in order to sustain the milk flow[].

The plant is used to treat sore eyes, nose problems and throat problems[].

The fresh or dried root is chewed by a medicine man before sucking a snakebite, and the chewed root used as a poultice[].
The chewed root is placed in the cavity of an aching tooth[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Divisions root easily.
Root cuttings
Cuttings of greenwood in a frame[].