Wildflowers – Woody nightshade

Woody nightshade is a poisonous vine in the same genus as potatoes and tomatoes.

It is native to northern Africa, Europe, and Asia, but has spread throughout the world. The plant is relatively important in the diet of some species of birds such as European thrushes,which feed on its fruits, being immune to its poisons, and scatter the seeds abroad.

Bittersweet is a very woody herbaceous perennial vine, which scrambles over other plants, capable of reaching a height of 4 m where suitable support is available, but more often 1–2 m high. 

This plant is one of the less poisonous members of the Solanaceae. Instances of poisoning in humans are very rare on account of the fruit’s intensely bitter taste. The most common cases are in children as the bright red berries can look like sweets. Incidentally, the fruit has been reported to have a sweet aftertaste, hence the vernacular name bittersweet.