Solanum dulcamara, Bittersweet

Common Name: Bittersweet, Woody Nightshade

Solanum dulcamara, more commonly known as Bittersweet or Woody Nightshade, is a perennial vine or scrambling shrub with slender stems in the Nightshade Family. Flowers have star-shaped, purple, backward-pointing petals and stamens fused in a prominent yellow cone; grow in clusters along branches on short stalks extending out from the stems. Berries are round or egg-shaped and bright red when ripe with numerous yellow, flattened seeds; unripe berries are green.

Leaves are dark-green to purplish and often with one or two small ear-like lobes near the base, leaf blades are 1 to 4 inches long. The main root grows horizontally just below the surface and suckers frequently. Commonly found along edges of fields, vacant lands, roadsides, and along streams and wetlands where it thrives in moist soil and partial shade.

https://www.uknature.co.uk is a website dedicated to showing the immense diversity of UK nature and wildlife. Our vast range of habitats, from lowland arable to snow covered mountains, from storm-ravaged coastlines to peaceful inland freshwater lakes and rivers, from dry, sandy heaths to deciduous and coniferous forests, all these habitats contribute to the abundance of UK nature. We have wild birds in huge numbers either residing or visiting our shores (597 recorded species as at July 2013) and we must also not forget the humble back garden with its grass lawns, flower beds filled with nectar rich flowers, shrubs and trees, all designed to attract huge numbers of insects such as bees, moths, butterflies and hoverflies; and finally the small ponds which provide safe havens for frogs, toads, newts and even slow worms and grass snakes. www.uknature.co.uk is the showcase for my personal passion, photographing uknature in all its glory. I sincerely hope you all enjoy the fruits of my labours.