Brazilian nightshade is a sprawling shrub or creeper with bright red berries. It is poisonous to people and animals and it smothers other plants.
Brazilian nightshade:
The leaves, stems and unripe green fruits of Brazilian nightshade contain solasodine which is a toxic steroidal glycoalkoid.
All parts of the plant may be poisonous to humans. Symptoms from eating the leaves or fruit may include gastric irritation, nausea and diarrhoea.
What to do if a person is poisoned:
The leaves stems and unripe fruit are poisonous to some animals.
Brazillian nightshade grows in coastal areas of New South Wales from the Queensland to Victorian borders. It is most common on the North Coast. It has also been found in Tamworth.
It is native to Central America and the Caribbean.
Brazilian nightshade is an environmental weed in forests, urban bushland, and along waterways (riparian) areas. It is also found along roadsides and trails and in pastures, gardens and parks.
It often grows on disturbed soil, especially fertile soil.
Birds and other animals eat the ripe fruit and spread the seed.
Debrot, E. A., Lastra, R., & De Uzcategui, R. C. (1977). Solanum Seaforthianum, a weed host of eggplant mosaic virus in Venezuela. Plant Disease Reporter, 61(8), 628-631.
McKenzie, R. (2012). Australia's poisonous plants, fungi and cyanobacteria: a guide to species of medical and veterinary importance. CSIRO.
PlantNET (The NSW Plant Information Network System). Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney. Retrieved 12 February 2020 from: http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Solanum~seaforthianum
Richardson, F. J., Richardson, R. G., & Shepherd, R. C. H. (2011). Weeds of the south-east: an identification guide for Australia (No. Ed. 3). CSIRO.
Successful weed control relies on follow up after the initial efforts. This means looking for and killing regrowth or new seedlings. Aim to control the plants beofer they start fruiting.
The seedlings can be pulled out when young. Older plants can be pulled or dug out if the soil is not too hard. Take care to remove all of the roots.
Spray the leaves when the plant is actively growing. If the weed is growing over desired plants it can be pulled down and sprayed on the ground.
Ensure that all of the fruit are collected and disposed of. Contact your local council for advice on disposal.
See Using herbicides for more information.
PERMIT 11916 Expires 31/03/2025
Glyphosate 360 g/L
(Various products)
Rate: 1 part product to 100 parts water plus surfactant
Comments: Spray. Urban bushland, forests and coastal reserves.
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate
PERMIT 12942 Expires 30/08/2025
Glyphosate 360 g/L
with Metsulfuron-methyl 600 g/kg (Various products)
Rate: 2 L + 10 g per 100 L of water plus wetter
Comments: Riparian areas
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate
PERMIT 12942 Expires 30/08/2025
Picloram 100 g/L + Triclopyr 300 g/L + Aminopyralid 8 g/L
(Grazon Extra®)
Rate: 300-500 mL per 100 L water
Comments: Urban bushlands, pastures, rights of way, forests
Withholding period: Where product is used to control woody weeds in pastures there is a restriction of 12 weeks for use of treated pastures for making hay and silage; using hay or other plant material for compost, mulch or mushroom substrate; or using animal waste from animals grazing on treated pastures for compost, mulching, or spreading on pasture/crops.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate
PERMIT 12942 Expires 30/08/2025
Triclopyr 300 g/L + Picloram 100 g/L
with Metsulfuron-methyl 600 g/kg (Various products)
Rate: 300-500 mL per 100 L water plus 10 g metsulfuron-methyl per 100 L water
Comments: Urban bushland, pastures, rights of way, forests
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate
The content provided here is for information purposes only and is taken from the Biosecurity Act 2015 and its subordinate legislation, and the Regional Strategic Weed Management Plans (published by each Local Land Services region in NSW). It describes the state and regional priorities for weeds in New South Wales, Australia.
Area | Duty |
---|---|
All of NSW | General Biosecurity Duty All pest plants are regulated with a general biosecurity duty to prevent, eliminate or minimise any biosecurity risk they may pose. Any person who deals with any plant, who knows (or ought to know) of any biosecurity risk, has a duty to ensure the risk is prevented, eliminated or minimised, so far as is reasonably practicable. |
Reviewed 2020