Single Record

Species: Solanum physalifolium [Solanum physalifolium var. nitidisacatum] [Solanum nitidisaccatum] [Solanum americanum] [Solanum nigrum] [Solanum sarrachoides] [Solanum styleanum]

PhotoRecords: YES Rich Haswell; Rio Grande Co, Alder Creek Rd N of South Fork 13 Sept 2017]

Comments: There are only 7 locations in the Watershed so far for this exotic nightshade, all in the Upper Basin and on disturbed ground. For instance in 2017 Solanum physalifolium var. nitidibaccatum appeared in the mulch bin of a resident of Del Norte. Probably it is more widespread in the Valley than these records indicate. Observations follow the Rio Grande drainage down through New Mexico but no farther south. The species occurs in all USA states west of the Great Plains and in scattered locations eastward and northward. Note that specialists have not decided on the correct epithet for this taxon; Ackerfield (2022) lists it as Solanum styleanum, saying that the name Solanum physalifolium is "misapplied," but citing no sources. The Nightshade Biodiversity group treats the taxon as Solanum nitidibaccatum. Also note that Solanum physalifolium and S. americanum are distinct taxa and that probably the latter is not established in Colorado.