Duration: Perennial. Nativity: Native. Lifeform: Subshrub. General: Perennial herb or woody at base to 1 m tall, emerges from tough creeping rhizomes, foliage and stems canescent with finely stellate pubescence; stems, petioles and midribs of leaves sparsely to densely prickly with slender yellowish spines 1-5 mm long. Leaves: Petioles with shallowly longitudinal grooves on upper surface, 3-20 mm long, leaves linear, oblong, or lanceolate 4-25 mm wide, 3-10 cm long, broadly cuneate at base, obtuse to acute at apex, with prominent veins. Flowers: Cymose, peduncles, pedicels and calyces prickly with yellow spines, calyx ovate to lance-linear, corollas 2-3 cm diameter, violet or blue; anthers 7-9 mm long, subequal, yellow. Fruits: Berries globose 9-14 mm in diameter, yellow to brownish. Ecology: Found on sandy plains, arroyos, outwash slopes and disturbed areas from 1,000-5,500 ft (305-1676 m); flowers April-October. Distribution: WA and ID south to CA east to NC; south to S. Amer. ; also in Afrca, Europe, Asia and Australia. Notes: Rhizomatousness, spines, and distinct purple-blue flowers help identify this species. Ethnobotany: Used in a variety of medicinal capacities, considered to be highly toxic. Etymology: Solanum is Latin for quieting, reference to the narcotic properties of some species, elaeagnifolium refers to being like plants in the genus Eleagnus.

Santa Catalina Mountains.
Prison Camp.
Location: End of campground road next to horse corral.
5/17/17

Notes: Rillito Wash east of Swan Road bridge 8/6/18

See SEINet Pictures and Description

See FireFly Forest Pictures and Description