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Native Plant Database

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Solanum rostratum (Buffalobur nightshade)
Marcus, Joseph A.

Solanum rostratum Dunal

Buffalobur nightshade, Buffalo bur

Solanaceae (Potato Family)

USDA Symbol: soro

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Dense, golden-yellow prickles cover the stems and calyx of each yellow, star-like flower on this leafy weed.

The prickles on this highly toxic plant help to discourage grazing by livestock. An equally prickly species of about the same habit, Melonleaf Nightshade (S. citrullifolium), has blue-violet corollas.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Annual
Habit: Herb
Fruit:
Size Class: 0-1 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: May , Sep

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , AZ , CA , CO , CT , DC , DE , GA , IA , ID , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , MT , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NV , NY , OH , OK , OR , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , UT , VA , VT , WA , WI , WV , WY
Native Distribution: Throughout much of southern Canada and United States; in West, probably more common in southern part; also in northern Mexico.
Native Habitat: Found in dry, calcareous soil in full sun with little water. This plant is very abundant in the Texas hill country.
USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN (W)

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Sun
Conditions Comments: This plant is extrememly low maintenance and has prickles to protect itself from harm. This plant comes into the landscape when all other things disappear and can survive will no water and bad soil.

Benefit

Use Wildlife: Seeds are important dove and quail food.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Fragrant Flowers: yes
Interesting Foliage: yes
Deer Resistant: High

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Fredericksburg Nature Center - Fredericksburg, TX
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Sibley Nature Center - Midland, TX
Brackenridge Field Laboratory - Austin, TX
Patsy Glenn Refuge - Wimberley, TX
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Herbarium Specimen(s)

NPSOT 0025 Collected July 22, 1990 in Bexar County by Judith C. Berry
NPSOT 0446 Collected Jun 4, 1987 in Bexar County by Harry Cliffe
NPSOT 0128 Collected Sept. 9, 1991 in Bexar County by Lottie Millsaps
NPSOT 0946 Collected Sep 1, 1994 in Bexar County by Harry Cliffe

Wildflower Center Seed Bank

LBJWC-0110 Collected 2007-07-10 in Travis County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Bibliography

Bibref 281 - Shinners & Mahler's Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas (1999) Diggs, G. M.; B. L. Lipscomb; B. O'Kennon; W. F...
Bibref 328 - Wildflowers of Texas (2003) Ajilvsgi, Geyata.
Bibref 286 - Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country (1989) Enquist, M.

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Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Solanum rostratum in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Solanum rostratum in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Solanum rostratum

Metadata

Record Modified: 2008-12-17
Research By: NPC

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