The calyx is deeply 5-cleft, 1/8 in.; 1/4 in. corolla deeply 5-cleft, white or slightly purple, lobes often reflexed; anthers 1.4 to 2.2 mm., compared to S. douglasii, 2.5 to 4mm. long.  Lake Huntington shore, Huntington Central Park, Huntington Beach, CA. 2-15-09. © Joan Avise.

Small-flowered (White) Nightshade

Solanum americanum

An exotic, introduced from South America. It is a widespread, 1-2 ft. tall shrubby annual or short-lived perennial in open, often disturbed, moist places.  It closely resembles S. douglasii, but with smaller flowers (Clarke).  The green fruit is particularly poisonous but all parts can cause poisoning from the high levels of solanine, solamargine, scopolamine and hyoscyamine (Wikipedia). Flowering Apr-Nov.

Solanaceae

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The alternate leaves are 1 1/2 to 4 in. long, minutely hairy, entire-margined to coarsely wavy-toothed. The inflorescence arises at or very close to the node opposite the leaf stalk.  Lake Huntington shore, Huntington Central Park, Huntington Beach, CA. 2-15-09. © Joan Avise.

Lake Huntington shore, Huntington Central Park, Huntington Beach, CA. 2-09. © Joan Avise.

Berry greenish,  becoming shiny black, 1/4 in. diameter.  Lake Huntington shore, Huntington Central Park, Huntington Beach, CA. 2-15-09. © Joan Avise.