Bittersweet nightshade
The plant is poisonous, like most plants in the nightshade family. Even birds get diarrhea from the beautiful red berries.
The yellow structure surrounding the style is formed by five anthers. Small pores at the tip release pollen, triggered by insects’ buzzing vibrations.
PHoto: Jens H. Petersen
Photo Jens H. Petersen
The name Bittersweet nightshade reflects that if you chew it, it has a bitter taste at first and a sweet taste after a while. It contains the bitter solanine, but enzymes of the saliva dissolve it into sweet-tasting components. However, do not try it for yourself because solanine is toxic for humans.
Bittersweet nightshade is pollinated by bees in a very special way, called buzz pollination. The yellow anthers are fused into a tube with small holes at the tip. When the bees grab the anthers and vibrate with their flight muscles, they shake out the pollen which they use for feeding their larvae.
The fruits are red, egg-shaped berries that look like small tomatoes. They look tempting, but do not eat them -they are poisonous like the rest of the plant.
Birds are tempted by the red berries and get a stomach ache, which makes the seeds come out quickly and dispersed with the droppings without getting digested.
Facts:
- Greenhouse location: The exhibition “Fabulous Flowers”
- Danish name: Bittersød natskygge
- Latin name: Solanum dulcamara
- Family: The nightshade family / Solanaceae
- Natural habitat: Damp woods, marsh, and dunes