nightshade

American  

[nahyt-sheyd] / ˈnaɪtˌʃeɪd /

noun

1. any of various plants of the genus Solanum, especially the black nightshade or the bittersweet.

2. any of various other related plants, as the deadly nightshade.

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nightshade British  

/ ˈnaɪtˌʃeɪd /

noun

1. any of various solanaceous plants, such as deadly nightshade, woody nightshade, and black nightshade

2. See enchanter's nightshade

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Etymology

Origin of nightshade

before 1000; Middle English; Old English nihtscada. See night, shade

Example Sentences

That changed when Vasquez and fellow master's biology students at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley monitored fields of mowed, unmowed and frequently mowed silverleaf nightshade in and around Edinburg, Texas.

From Science Daily

"If we find that these root acylsugars are effective at repelling harmful organisms, could they be bred into other nightshades, thereby helping plants grow without the need for harmful synthetic fungicides and pesticides?"

From Science Daily

There are nightshades like eggplants and tomatoes as well as leaner Japanese eggplants and numerous kinds of peppers.

From National Geographic

At the farm’s labeled U-pick areas, visitors can pick a variety of produce for free, including tomatoes, cucumbers, African nightshade, amaranth, collards, corn and potatoes.

From Seattle Times

The plant is included in the nightshade family, which features a host of toxic and beneficial species, from tomatoes and eggplant to tobacco and belladonna.

From Salon