Solanum physalifolium
species of plant
Solanum physalifolium, known as hoe nightshade, Argentine nightshade, green nightshade and hairy nightshade, is a species in the family Solanaceae (the nightshade family). Native to Argentina, Bolivia and Chile, it is widely naturalized in Australia, New Zealand, Europe, western Canada and the north western United States. Solanum physalifolium has been widely but incorrectly known as Solanum sarrachoides, a different species. It has been listed as a noxious weed in the US states of Kansas and Michigan under this misapplied name.
Taxonomy
Two varieties have been recognized:
Solanum physalifolium var. nitidibaccatum (Bitter) Edmonds, sometimes considered a separate species, Solanum nitidibaccatum Bitter
Solanum physalifolium var. physalifolium
Description
Solanum physalifolium is an annual herbaceous plant growing from a taproot. It reaches a height of 10–90 cm (4–35 in). There are no leaves at the base of the stem. The leaves along the stem are ovoid to deltoid (egg-shaped to triangular), 2–8 cm (0.8–3.1 in) long by 1.5–5 cm (0.6–2.0 in) across.
Begin with the source’s own compact description: “Solanum physalifolium” is species of plant. The dossier treats that line as a proposition to test through Solanum, physalifolium and species, not as a finished interpretation.
Why this record matters
The phrase “species of plant” supplies a clear boundary for inquiry. It also exposes the unanswered questions: who defined that boundary, when it became stable and which sources sit outside it.
Stable identifiers, scientific names and standards terminology offer the best bridge between this overview and specialist evidence. The source revision retrieved here is dated Sep 20, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q3915541. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference.
A general summary may omit uncertainty, sample limits or methodological disagreement that is explicit in the technical record. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Check terminology, classification and the date of the cited evidence. Scientific names and technical consensus can change while older records retain historical value.
- Current terminology
- Classification context
- Finding cited technical literature
Primary datasets, specimen catalogues, standards bodies and the most recent peer-reviewed literature.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Solanum physalifolium”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Solanum physalifolium primary sources, Solanum physalifolium archive and Solanum research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Solanum physalifolium”?
- Which observation, specimen, dataset or publication supports the account?
- Is the terminology current, historical or disputed?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Solanum physalifolium” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.