Family: SOLANACEAE Habit: An annual, sprawling herb to 1m high with a spread of 1.5m. Habitat: Moist areas in rainforest clearings, eucalypt woodlands and along creeks, from Queensland to Victoria and Tasmania. Identifying Features: Leaves: Soft, dark green, 3 - 6cm long, 1 - 2cm wide, sparsely hairy on both sides. Flower: Star shaped, 8 - 12mm wide, 5 white petals with a yellow centre appearing in summer. Fruit: Remaining green, 5 - 10mm across, with numerous seeds, turning soft when ripe and falling to the ground with stem still attached, tasting like sweet cherry tomatoes, ripening in late summer through to autumn. Confusing Species: Blackberry Nightshade (Solanum nigrum) is very similar in structure and leaf shape but has black berries when ripe which are also edible. Aboriginal Use: No information available but possibly ate the berries when ever they were found.
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