Woody Nightshade / Bittersweet Solanum dulcamara Fuath gorm Family: Solanaceae Flowering time: June-September. Perennial. Native. The clusters of downward-hanging purple flowers with yellow anthers and reflexed petals are followed by poisonous red egg-shaped berries. Lower leaves are stalked, usually with small lobes at base, upper leaves have 3 leaflets. Stems are woody at base, scrambling or climbing to 2m. Damp woods, hedges, streamsides but less frequent in western Ireland Similar: S. dulcamara var. marinum. Prostrate, on shingle beaches

Woody Nightshade / Bittersweet, Solanum dulcamara, Fuath gorm
Photographs: Bantry, Co. Cork