Invasive nightshade vine spotted in remote Oregon high desert town
iNaturalist: sarah-in-the-desert
Invasive Species
Spotting this vine in a remote spot like Frenchglen helps land managers catch invasive species before they spread through sensitive high-desert habitat, and it's a reminder to keep the toxic berries away from kids and pets if it shows up in your own yard.
Someone out in Frenchglen, a tiny town in Oregon's high desert country, photographed a climbing vine called bittersweet nightshade and got it confirmed by other naturalists. This plant isn't native to North America, it produces small red berries that look tempting but are toxic if eaten, and finding it in a remote area like this helps scientists track how far invasive plants have spread.
Key Findings
Observation reached research-grade status on iNaturalist, meaning the identification was confirmed by the community
Location is Frenchglen, Oregon, a small remote community in Harney County near the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge
Bittersweet nightshade (Solanum dulcamara) is a non-native, weedy vine species in the Pacific Northwest
chevron_right Technical Summary
A citizen scientist confirmed bittersweet nightshade, a non-native and mildly toxic vine, growing in Frenchglen, Oregon, a remote high-desert town in Harney County where invasive plants are closely tracked.
Abstract Preview
Original paper
bittersweet nightshade (Solanum dulcamara) observed in Frenchglen, OR, US
Research-grade observation of bittersweet nightshade in Frenchglen, OR, US.
open_in_new Read full abstractAbstract copyright held by the original publisher.
Species Mentioned
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Solanum dulcamara is a species of vine in the genus Solanum of the family Solanaceae. Common names include bittersweet, bittersweet nightshade, bitter nightshade, blue bindweed, Amara Dulcis, climbing nightshade, felonwort, fellenwort, felonwood, poisonberry, poisonflower, scarlet berry, snakeber...