Solanum physalifolium               Green Nightshade

Distribution: Prestwich (SD80C, AR Franks, 1996); disturbed sand-dunes, Cabin Hill (SD20S, PH Smith, 2006, det. MP Wilcox); Aintree (SJ39U, RF Goodchild, 2007); site of a demolished house, Raven Meols (SD20S, DP Earl & J Earl, 2009).

Former distribution: Sefton Fold Farm, Horwich (SD60P, PMAF, 1992, BON).

Habitat: Disturbed ground and on sand dunes with the Raven Meols plants occurring on rabbit grazed sandy ground.

Comments: Neophyte, native to South America. Considered to be a short-lived casual but populations should be monitored to see if this species persists. Note the numerous patent hairs which are gland-tipped and the enlargement of the calyx from the flowering stage to the fruiting stage so that the fruits become partially enclosed.

This species may well have been previously determined as Solanum sarachoides from Castleton, near Rochdale (SD81V, Rev. CE Shaw, 1967); Freshfield Station (SD20Z, P Lockwood, 1989, det. V Gordon) and Solanum nigrum subsp. schultesii East Dummersdale (SD41B, DP Earl & J Earl, 1999, BON); Southport (SD31I, DP Earl & JE, 1999, MANCH); Newbridge (SD83P, DP Earl, J Earl & SP Toone, 2003); Orrell (SD50G, EM Stephenson, 2004). As there are voucher specimens held at Manchester Museum (MANCH) and Bolton Museum (BON) we can make further progress by viewing the herbarium specimens in due course.