Solanum dimidiatum Raf. - Western Horse Nettle
Family - Solanaceae
Stems:
Leaves:
Adaxial leaf surface.
Abaxial leaf surface.
Inflorescence:
N/A
Flowers:
Flowering - May - August.
Habitat - Roadsides, waste ground, disturbed sites.
Origin - Native to the southwestern United States and Mexico.
Other information - This weedy species has only been reported from a handful of counties in southeastern Alabama. It will almost certainly spread with time. The plant is easy to identify because of its spiny stems, which are covered with stellate hairs, its lobed leaves, and its big blue flowers. The stellate hairs of this species typically have 6-8 rays.
The genus name Solanum is the classical Latin name for the nightshades.
The species epithet dimidiatum derives from the Latin "dimidi" meaning "to halve, half" referring to ?.
Alabama Distribution:
Photographs taken off Moores Mill Rd., Lee County, AL., 5-4-06.