1. A small, bushy plant or vine with dark green leaves that are usually spade- shaped. Some species have 2 small spade leaflets projecting back behind the main leaf.

2. Flowers are white, yellow, blue, or purple

3. Produces berries which contain tomato-like seeds; often green in spring, ripening to red, purple, or black in summer or fall

4. Related plants

      a) Solanum lycopersicon- Garden tomato

      b) Solanum tuberosum- Garden Potato

      c) Green vines fed to livestock can be poisonous

1. Alkaloid known as solanine which affects nervous system and gastrointestinal tract

1. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain

2. Drowsiness, incoordination, salivation, depression

1. Symptomatic treatment

      a) remove from affected area