Not the well known but rarely seen Deadly Nightshade, the Bittersweet Nightshade is a less toxic and more widely dispersed member of the same family. The entire plant contains solanine, the same toxin found in green potatoes and other members of the nightshade family, and it also contains a glycoside called dulcamarine, similar in structure and effects to atropine, one of the toxins found in deadly nightshade. The toxin amount varies with soil, light, climate and growth stage. Ripe fruits are generally less toxic than the leaves and unripe berries, but even ripe berries can be poisonous.

The Bittersweet Nightshade is not listed on the Washington State Noxious Weed list, but is listed as a plant of concern, meaning the department is collecting data on it. Control of the plant is primarily by manual removal, ie hand pulling, though there are chemical formulations that may work well at control the chemicals are non-selective and will damage other nearby plants.

Currently we have 3 stands of the Bittersweet Nightshade and they are all near the creek. I try to keep the plants pulled in most areas to discourage anyone or anything from eating the berries.

f/1.4 | ISO-800 | 1/1000sec | @ 55mm

Camera: Nikon D7200 w/ Mamiya-Sekor 55mm f/1.4 SLR lens

Processed with: Photoshop CS6

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