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UltravioletPhotography

Solanum elaeagnifolium [Silverleaf Nightshade]


Andrea B.

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Blum, A.G. (2021) Solanum elaeagnifolium Cav. (Solanaceae) Silverleaf Nightshade. Flowers photographed in ultraviolet, visible and UV+B+G light. https://www.ultravio...eaf-nightshade/

 

La Secuela, Eldorado at Santa Fe, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA

29 May 2021

Wildflower

 

Synonyms:

  • Solanum flavidum

 

Other Common Names:

  • Bull Nettle
  • Tomato Weed
  • Trompillo
  • White Horse-nettle
  • White Nightshade
  • Buena Mujer
  • Tomatito de Buena Mujer

 

Comment:

This tough plant thrives along our dusty gravel roads. The purple-blue is very eye-catching against all the dust and rocks. It's stems and leaves are well-armed, so be sure to wear gloves if you want to gather a sample. Both the leaves and flowers are UV-absorbing. The flower shows both UV-black and a dark false blue with bits of iridescence along the petal ribs. The stem is UV-bright.

 

Reference:

1. SEINet Arizona-New Mexico Chapter (acc nn mmm 2021) Solanum elaeagnifolium.

This is a southwestern biodiversity organization making use of the Symbiota portal software.

 

Equipment [Nikon D610-broadband + Nikon 105mm f/4.5 UV-Nikkor]

 

Visible Light [f/16 for 1/1250" @ ISO-100 in Sunlight with Baader UVIR-Block Filter]

solanumElaeagnifolium_vis_sun_20210529laSecuela_23329pn01.jpg

 

Ultraviolet Light [f/16 for 1/2.5" @ ISO-100 in Sunlight with BaaderU UV-Pass Filter]

solanumElaeagnifolium_uvBaad_sun_20210529laSecuela_23341pn01.jpg

 

UV+Blue+Green [f/16 for 1/13" @ ISO-100 in Sunlight with UG5(2.0 mm) + S8612(2.0 mm)]

solanumElaeagnifolium_ug5x2_s8612x2_sun_20210529laSecuela_23359pn01.jpg

 

 

Visible Light [f/16 for 1/800" @ ISO-100 in Sunlight with Baader UVIR-Block Filter]

The flower was beginning to wilt in the hot sun, but I was able to get a quick abaxial view.

It revived nicely when returned to water.

solanumElaeagnifoliumAbaxial_vis_sun_20210529laSecuela_23372pn01.jpg

 

Ultraviolet Light [f/16 for 1/1.6" @ ISO-100 in Sunlight with BaaderU UV-Pass Filter]

solanumElaeagnifoliumAbaxial_uvBaad_sun_20210529laSecuela_23376pn01.jpg

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Andy Perrin

Wiki strongly implies it is?

“ Ingestion of silverleaf nightshade has been implicated as a cause of ivermectin toxicosis in horses given the recommended dosage of the drug. Metabolites from the plant are speculated to disrupt the blood-brain barrier, allowing ivermectin to enter and disrupt neurotransmitter function in the brain and spinal cord.[11]”

 

But probably not as toxic as the “deadly nightshade” belladonna of European legend, which is totally unrelated to the Solanum ones. Very few things are more toxic than belladonna.

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"Bella donna" means "pretty woman" in Italian. That's because atropine dilates your pupils, and this was actually used for cosmethic purposes.
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My field guide also mentions that the yellow berries of Solanum elaeagnifolium are poisonous.

 

Our cultivated tomatos and potatos are both Solanums.

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