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Solanum carolinense L. var. carolinense
Carolina Horsenettle
Bullnettle
Florida native
A frequent herbaceous plant of hammocks and disturbed sites of Florida mostly in the panhandle and the peninsula north of I-4, plus a few scattered central and southern Florida counties. The range includes the continental United States with the exception of Nevada, Wyoming, Montana and North Dakota.
Growing up to 80cm (31-1/2 in.) tall, the stems have prickles and the alternate leaves are petiolate and lobed. The carolinense subspecies has leaves with lobes cut less than halfway to the midvein. There is a floridanum subspecies that has leaves with lobes cut to near the midvein. Flowers usually have five white petals but sometimes they are light purple. There are five yellow stamens.
Solanum carolinense is a member of the Solanaceae - Potato family.
Other species of the Solanum genus in the Wild Florida Photo database:
Solanum americanum - AMERICAN BLACK NIGHTSHADE
Solanum bahamense - BAHAMA NIGHTSHADE
Solanum capsicoides - SODA APPLE
Solanum chenopodioides - BLACK NIGHTSHADE
Solanum dulcamara - CLIMBING NIGHTSHADE
Solanum sisymbriifolium - STICKY NIGHTSHADE
Solanum viarum - TROPICAL SODA APPLE
Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants (Institute for Systemic Botany) profile for this species
iNaturalist profile for this species
USDA Plant Profile for this species
Date record last modified: Dec 08, 2023
