Woody Nightshade (Berries) by Chipka
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Description
As a child, I learned not to eat these berries, though first-hand experience wasn’t the teacher. My mother and my grandmother were the ones to inform me of the folly of ingesting nightshade. As a child, I wondered why the plant known for these berries was known as nightshade. Isn’t night—by its nature shady—even with moonlight? I thought—as children often think—that this particular plant was known for its propensity for growing in the darker domains of darkness. This didn’t explain the chlorophyll in the leaves, or the habit of thriving in well-lit places. The name of this plant remained a mystery throughout my childhood. Even now, when I think of it, I wonder why nightshade (woody and otherwise) bears its particular moniker.
I’ve taken numerous photos of nightshade, though I’ve posted very few of them. The plant itself is known as an invasive weed species in the Great Lakes region of the USA. In a particular truck-yard on the south side of Chicago, it’s as ubiquitous as hamburger-stealing dogs, yellowjackets, and woodlice. These particular berries were found creeping over a fence from the back yard of rather dubious neighbors. The yard in question was overrun with various weeds and the scent of possums. As I no longer live in that particular area, I can look at this photo for what it is and not cringe at the remembered scent of unwashed possums, territorial cats, and recreational smoke of questionable pedigree. I like the green, oddly tomato-scented berries. I also like the fact that various parts of woody nightshade anatomy have been known to cure ringworm and stunt the growth of e. coli. The partly-metabolized wooden fence made a good background to the not-entirely-edible berries: and in looking through my files, I was happy for the memories of summer warmth embedded in this image. As the Midwest is preparing for cold weather (Cold by Polar-Vortex standards) I’m quite happy with the implications of late-spring warmth embedded in the greenery (and insect-scratched wood) seen here, and so (for those in the frigid Midwest), here a snapshot of warmth: tomato-scented if one were to break one of the berries.
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and I hope your year is off to a great start.
Comments (13)
Faemike55
A fabulous and very sharp photo along with an interesting description tinged with a touch of childhood memories makes for a great upload thanks
beachzz
Gorgeous color; too bad they're so nasty!!
Wolfenshire
Wonderful capture and story. Those berries will ruin your whole day.
giulband
Interesting questions about this fruits!!
durleybeachbum
I often think it's odd that we can eat its relations, like tomatoes and potatoes . Superbly attractive pic.
wysiwig
The pretty ones always seem to be the most dangerous. I love the highlights on the berries. The name Nightshade was first used before the year 1200. Old English writings describe the plant as Nightshades because of their "evil and loving" nature of the night.
helanker
What a beautiful shot this. I love the deep shadows :-)
kgb224
Superb capture my friend. God bless.
jendellas
very sharp pic, superb capture & memories. x
NefariousDrO
Pretty! I think I may have some of that growing alongside my house!
auntietk
Tomato-scented berries ... that makes sense, since they're related. I'd never noticed the smell! I had oodles of nightshade at the house in Washington, and pulled it in great masses out of the trees, along with bindweed. It's such a beautiful vine, and the flowers are so pretty, it always seemed a shame to get rid of it, but it came back over and over again, every year, so I guess it's okay. :P This is a wonderfully Chip-esque shot. Love it!
MrsRatbag
I have never smelled the berries, although they are prolific here; are they only tomato-scented when green? And unwashed possum? Wonder what a washed one would smell like; and who's the likeliest (and unluckiest) person to do that job? I was surprised to see a little wren eating nightshade berries (red ones) at Juanita Bay a few weeks back. I wasn't aware that they were safe for anything to eat, aside from maybe goats. Wonderful shot from your warmer past, Chip!
jeanebean
Is this what we used to eat the leaves of as Polk greens in the South? When young and tender they taste like spinach. Very nice photo & walk down memory lane.
Chipka
I'm not exactly sure, but I know that polk looks like nightshade (on steroids) but I don't really know if they're the same potato-related-tomato-smelling (kinda stinky) plant-things. I have some polk berry photos somewhere in my files. They're so pretty, and the blossoms are amazingly fragile. I never knew you could eat the leaves, but then the last polk weed I saw looked a bit...um...well...I think it was packin' heat. I know that with woody nightshade, the roots (or maybe it's the stems/leaves) get rid of ringworm..