Solanum hindsianum, Hinds Nightshade, Southwest Desert Flora

Solanum hindsianum, Hinds Nightshade

Hinds Nightshade has purple flowers that bloom in March. The species grows at tight elevations from 1,500 to 1,800 feet in elevation. Solanum hindsianum

Hinds Nightshade; back-side of purple flower showing the calyx and corolla petals. Solanum hindsianum

Hinds Nightshade is extremely rare in the United States where it is only found in Arizona, Organ Pipe National Monument, Pima, County. Solanum hindsianum

Hinds Nightshade has greenish-gray leaves, variable in shape from oblong-lanceolate to ovate. The bottom surface with dense whitish hairs (tomentose). Solanum hindsianum

Scientific Name: Solanum hindsianum
Common Name: Hinds Nightshade
Also Called: Hinds' Nightshade, Sonoran Nightshade (Spanish: Mariola, Ojo de Liebre)
Family: Solanaceae, Nightshade or Potato Family
Synonyms: ()
Status: Native
Duration: Perennial
Size: Up to 6 feet or more.
Growth Form: Forb/herb; plants with stout prickles about ⅓ inch; new growth with stellate hairs;
Leaves: Green, greenish-gray; alternate, margins entire to undulate; shape variable oblong-lanceolate to ovate; bottom surface of leaf (abaxial) densely tomentose.
Flower Color: Purple; actinomorphic; pedicels about ⅔ inch long; calyx about 2-3 times longer than the calyx tube; corolla rotate, about 2 inches in diameter.
Flowering Season: March.
Elevation: 1,500 to 1,800 feet.

Habitat Preferences: Rocky hillsides, often among boulders.

Recorded Range: Solanum hindsianum is extremely rare in the United States where it is found in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Pima, County, Arizona. It is also native throughout Baja California and northwest Mexico.

North America & US County Distribution Map for Solanum hindsianum.

U.S. Weed Information: No information available.
Invasive/Noxious Weed Information: No information available.
Wetland Indicator: No information available.
Threatened/Endangered Information: No information available.

Genus Information: In North America there are 104 species and 131 accepted taxa overall for Solanum. World wide, The Plant List includes 1,199 accepted species names and includes a further 454 infraspecific rank for the genus.

In the Southwestern United States, Arizona there are 18 species of Solanum, in California there are 30 species, Nevada has 8 species, New Mexico has 16 species, Texas has 27 species, Utah has 11 species. All data is approximate and subject to taxonomic changes.

Comments: Solanum hindsianum known only from Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Pima County, Arizona.

In Southwest Desert Flora also see: American Black Nightshade, Solanum americanum, Silverleaf Nightshade, Solanum elaeagnifolium, Fendler's Horsenettle, Solanum fendleri, Melon Leaf Nightshade, Solanum heterodoxum, Buffalobur Nightshade, Solanum rostratum and Purple Nightshade, Solanum xanti.