Devil’s Apple (Solanum linnaeanum), a nightshade from Southern Africa adopted into ornamental use on the strength of its radiant, toxic fruit. Traditionally called Apple of … Read the full post
Common Thorn-apple (Datura stramonium)
Common Thorn-apple (Datura stramonium), a toxic annual member of the Nightshade family originating in C. America. Also known as the Devils Trumpet, as James Town … Read the full post
Tree Tobacco (Nicotiana glauca)
Tree Tobacco (Nicotiana glauca), an Argentinian perennial related both to cultivated Tobacco and Australia’s native Nicotianas. Highly toxic, it was introduced to Australia as an … Read the full post
Green Cestrum (Cestrum parqui)
Green Cestrum (Cestrum parqui), a toxic South American ornamental shrub that became a notorious killer of cattle in eastern Australia. Its seed is bird-distributed and … Read the full post
Tobacco Nightshade (Solanum mauritianum)
Tobacco Nightshade (Solanum mauritianum), a South American shrub introduced to Australia as an ornamental selection, naturalised on that basis, and then distributed further as a … Read the full post
Garden Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)
Garden Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) found fruiting this autumn in riparian positions on Edgar’s Creek in Reservoir and amidst the rockeries along the top of Treasury … Read the full post
Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum)
Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum), the cultivated South American intoxicant, growing as a fence weed in one of Collingwood’s mixed use streets. Experimentation with the cultivation of … Read the full post
Prairie Ground Cherry (Physalis hederifolia)
Prairie Ground Cherry (Physalis hederifolia), a nightshade family member from the southwestern USA and northern Mexico, and a regionally controlled or prohibited weed throughout much … Read the full post
Whitetip Nightshade (Solanum chenopodioides)
Whitetip Nightshade (Solanum chenopodioides), an Argentinian nightshade in the Solanum nigrum complex that has been exported to other wet temperate locales since European colonisation. Reaching … Read the full post
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), a plant that appears poorly adapted for a pavement existence but tries it all the same. Tomato has been reported as an … Read the full post
Blue Morning Glory (Ipomoea indica)
Blue Morning Glory (Ipomoea indica), alien infestation of metropolitan Melbourne. A pan-tropical plant of uncertain origin, Blue Morning Glory was sold in Melbourne from 1855 … Read the full post
Common or Field Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis)
Common or Field Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis), a Eurasian morning glory and a persistent weed of cereal crops and urban waste grounds. Also comes more strongly … Read the full post
African boxthorn (Lycium ferocissimum)
African boxthorn (Lycium ferocissimum) in all its dread angles, a declared weed of national significance. A nightshade native to the Cape provinces of South Africa, … Read the full post
Pampas Lily of the Valley (Salpichroa organifolia)
Pampas Lily of the Valley (Salpichroa organifolia) is a scrambling plant capable of smothering small trees and wire fences alike, and originated in temperate South … Read the full post
Madeira Winter Cherry (Solanum pseudocapsicum)
Madeira Winter Cherry (Solanum pseudocapsicum) masquerading as an ornamental shrub in a church forecourt. Its position, crowding out an Aeonium from the kerb edge of … Read the full post