What is a horse nettle?
Horse nettle is a native perennial with spiny stems and leaves, white to purplish flowers, and toxic fruits that look like tiny yellow tomatoes. It does well in disturbed habitats, and many people consider it a weed.
What does a nettle plant look like?
They appear almost egg-shaped or oval, though like stinging nettle has a sharp tip and is serrated at the edges. Leaves have a wrinkled appearance, especially at emergence; this becomes less so as the leaves reach maturity. Leaves are alternate along the stem, unlike stinging nettle which has opposite leaf arrangement.
What does a horsenettle leaf look like?
The leaves on the Horsenettle alternate one another and have 2 to 5 shallow to deep lobed or sharp-points on each side of the leaf. These leaves are covered with small hairs and more spikes that go up the underside of the main vein.
How do I identify stinging nettles?
An image and information search of "Stinging Nettle" or Urtica dioica will give you a foundational understanding of stinging nettles and allow you to compare this plant to others you observe. Study the entire plant to identify stinging nettles: the stems, roots, leaves, flower clusters, etc.
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Is horse nettle good for anything?
A wilted leaf poultice was used for Poison Ivy rashes. A leaf infusion was used to expel worms. The berries were used for treating epilepsy. They were also used as a diuretic, a painkiller, an antispasmodic, and an aphrodisiac.
How poisonous is horse nettle?
All parts of the plant are poisonous, with the level of solanine being highest in the fall. Toxicity of these plants varies depending upon the maturity, environment and portion of the plant ingested. The berries are the most toxic when they are mature.
What happens if you eat horse nettle?
The glycoalkaloids act on the digestive system to cause excessive salivation, colic and diarrhea or constipation. These signs may be followed by depression, weakness, depressed respiration, dilated pupils, collapse and death if horse nettle is eaten in large amounts.
How do you get rid of horse nettle?
The most complete control of horsenettle is to mow at 30-day intervals and treat the final re-growth in fall with a systemic herbicide. The best time for the first mowing is right after horsenettle has come into full bloom, about 30 days after shoot emergence.
What happens if you touch horse nettle?
The leaves and young stems of this herbaceous plant are fitted with stinging hairs tipped with formic acid and other irritants. If touched, these needle-like hairs inject the stinging acid into the skin, triggering a burning, tingling sensation and an itchy rash.
Can you touch horse nettle?
If you see this weed in your garden do not touch! The spiny stems of horsenettle will prick, and some people will develop allergic reactions. It is quite painful, and if you have this on your property it is best to dig up with a trowel, getting all the roots.
Is horse nettle toxic to dogs?
Horsenettle is a toxic plant, however, reports of animal poisoning are very rare. Usually, most animals tend to stay away due to its sharp prickles that can cause injury in the mouth and food pipe. A toxic component, a glycoalkaloid known as solanine, occurs in varying concentrations in different plant parts.
Does horse nettle cause a rash?
Exposure to juice or sap from these plants or a puncture wound from the thorns may produce a skin rash or irritation.
What does horse nettle taste like?
---Description---Bears orange yellow berries which is the most active part of the plant, they are glabrous and fleshy, with an odour like pepper, taste, bitter and acrid.
What animals eat horse nettle?
Quail and wild turkeys eat the fruits. All parts of the Carolina horse nettle are poisonous to livestock and humans if ingested. Livestock may avoid eating the plant due to the prickles on the stems and leaves. The plant contains a toxin known as solanine and has the highest level in the fall.
Is horse nettle the same as stinging nettle?
Solanum carolinense, the Carolina horsenettle, is not a true nettle, but a member of the Solanaceae, or nightshade family. It is a perennial herbaceous plant, native to the southeastern United States, though its range has expanded throughout much of temperate North America.
How does horse nettle spread?
Horse nettle (Solanum carolinense L.) is a persistent perennial weed hav- ing a very extensive and deeply penetrating root system which permits storage of large food reserves. It is normally disseminated by means of seeds, creeping roots, and root cuttings.
How do you stop horsetail from spreading?
Remove rhizomes by digging as deeply as possible. The deep roots of established horsetail colonies will re-grow. Regularly removing the shoots and rhizomes as soon as they appear will weaken the plants, but total eradication requires determination over a number of years.
How do you permanently get rid of nettles?
Weedkiller controlNeglected areas can be cleared of established nettles by spraying them with a glyphosate-based weedkiller (such as Roundup Ultra or Doff Weedout Extra Tough Weedkiller) which should be applied as a spray in June, shortly before they flower.A second application may be necessary in September.More items...
Do nettles spread on skin?
About urticaria (hives) Urticaria – also known as hives, weals, welts or nettle rash – is a raised, itchy rash that appears on the skin. It may appear on one part of the body or be spread across large areas.
What is the seven minute itch?
If you go out very often, a discomfort you're likely to experience is the so-called “seven minute itch.” This results when your bare skin comes into contact with either of the two plant species known as nettles.
Which part of a nettle should you avoid touching?
Stinging nettle has fine hairs on the leaves and stems that contain irritating chemicals, which are released when the plant comes in contact with the skin. The hairs, or spines, of the stinging nettle are normally very painful to the touch.
What is the most poisonous flower in the world?
Nerium oleanderThe elegant Nerium oleander, the blossoms of which are crimson, magenta or creamy white, is one of the most toxic plants in the world. Every part of the plant, from its stem to its sap, is incredibly poisonous if ingested. Even inhaling the smoke from a burning oleander is a health threat.
What is the most toxic plant?
oleanderThe oleander, also known as laurel of flower or trinitaria, is a shrub plant (of Mediterranean origin and therefore, resistant to droughts) with intensely green leaves and whose leaves, flowers, stems, branches and seeds are all highly poisonous, hence it is also known as "the most poisonous plant in the world".
Is horse nettle invasive?
Facts about Carolina horse nettle This herbaceous plant is considered invasive to the rest of North America and has been found in the Sierra Nevada range, Central Valley, south coast ranges and northern ranges of California. Favors disturbed areas as well as grasslands and dunes.
Is nettle toxic to humans?
Stinging nettle is generally considered safe when used as directed. Occasional side effects include mild stomach upset, fluid retention, sweating, diarrhea, and hives or rash (mainly from topical use). It is important to be careful when handling the nettle plant because touching it can cause an allergic rash.
What is the most poisonous plant to horses?
Nine poisonous plants horses should avoidRagwort. While ragwort has a bitter taste and is rarely eaten by horses when it is growing, when it is wilted or dried it becomes more palatable. ... Foxglove. ... Deadly nightshade. ... Buttercups. ... Acorns. ... Yew. ... Privet. ... Rhododendron.More items...•
Can nettle stings be fatal?
An allergic reaction to one of the chemicals in the stinging nettle is the most severe complication of stinging nettle rash and can be life-threatening.
Is horse nettle the same as stinging nettle?
Solanum carolinense, the Carolina horsenettle, is not a true nettle, but a member of the Solanaceae, or nightshade family. It is a perennial herbaceous plant, native to the southeastern United States, though its range has expanded throughout much of temperate North America.
What does horse nettle look like?
For instance, it can grow up to 3 feet tall, and its roots run deep with spreading rootstocks.
What parts of the plant are poisonous?
Every single part of this plant is toxic to some degree. This includes its roots, stems, leaves, and berries. However, it’s worth noting that toxicity varies to some degree depending on the plant’s growing conditions. When it comes to its fruit, green, unripe berries are more toxic than ripe ones. Moreover, dried up horse nettle berries are less toxic than fresh ones.
How to tell if your horse has eaten horse nettle?
If you notice even two of these symptoms together, notify your veterinarian immediately and have him or her do a complete set of tests.
How to remove this plant from your property?
Getting rid of horsenettle is not a walk in the park, unfortunately. That’s because this plant propagates from seeds but also relies on an extensive root system. This makes it difficult to eradicate completely. Most people will just mow them down before they produce seeds, but this won’t eliminate them completely. They can grow back eventually from small portions of their rhizomatous roots.
How many petals does a sage have?
The flowers have five petals, and they are usually pale violet or white. They are star-shaped with a yellow core, and they bloom from May until September.
Is horse nettle poisonous to horses?
Is horse nettle poisono us for horses? Also known as Solanum carolinense or the Carolina Horsenettle, this plant is a member of the nightshade family. Horse nettle is poisonous to horses if ingested in large quantities, such as a pound or more. The primary toxic element of the plant is solanine, a glycoalkaloid that affects the autonomic nervous system as well as oral and gastric mucosa.
Is horse nettle dangerous?
Horse nettle is a dangerous plant for horses, but since these animals don’t like its taste or smell, they generally avoid it. This means that livestock deaths caused by eating this weed are relatively rare. As a horse owner, it’s your responsibility to check your property for this particular plant and to eradicate it when possible.
What are horse nettle leaves?
Horse nettle is a native perennial with spiny stems and leaves ; the fruits are toxic and look like tiny yellow tomatoes. Flowers in elongated clusters (racemes) at ends of stems, white to purple, about 1 inch across with 5 united petals, forming a five-pointed star with 5 large, yellow stamens protruding. Blooms May–October. Leaves with pointed lobes (somewhat resembling red oak leaves), with 4 lateral lobes and 1 shallow terminal lobe. Does not have bristles, but stems and midribs of leaves have yellow prickles. Fruit a smooth berry, yellow when ripe, like a tiny tomato, which persists through the winter. Most parts of the plant are toxic if eaten.
How does horse nettle spread?
Horse nettle spreads easily by seed and by underground rhizomes and can be a troublesome weed, hard to pull because of its spines and deep roots. Native Americans had medicinal uses for it, but all parts are toxic if eaten, and children have reportedly been killed by eating the fruit.
What are the two groups of vascular plants?
A very simple way of thinking about the green world is to divide the vascular plants into two groups: woody and nonwoody (or herbaceous). But this is an artificial division; many plant families include some species that are woody and some that are not. The diversity of nonwoody vascular plants is staggering! Think of all the ferns, grasses, sedges, lilies, peas, sunflowers, nightshades, milkweeds, mustards, mints, and mallows — weeds and wildflowers — and many more!
What is the meaning of the word "horse"?
The word "horse," as a plant adjective, implies something large, strong, or coarse. Similar plant names are horse-chestnut, a plant related to buckeyes and not in the beech family like edible true chestnuts; horse gentian, which is in the honeysuckle family and not a true gentian in the gentian family; and horseradish, which, though in the same family as radishes, is considerably stronger than them!
What do bumblebees eat?
Bumblebees pollinate the flowers, and a variety of insects (including predatory beetles that humans consider beneficial) feed on the leaves . Certain types of birds and some mammals eat seeds from mature fruit, but most mammals avoid them because of their toxic alkaloids.
Where does horse nettle grow?
Occurs in waste places, rights-of-way, openings in woods, fields, prairies, and other grassy or disturbed areas. To gardeners, it is a difficult-to-control weed, but it is also one of our native grassland wildflowers. The thick stands of grasses and forbs in our native prairies compete strongly with this plant, so in its native situation, horse nettle does not overwhelm its neighbors. Where soils are disturbed, horse nettle, lacking competition, grows profusely.
Is horse nettle a true nettle?
Therefore, horse nettle is not technically a "true nettle"; nettles are in a separate family (the Urticaceae). Nettles are infamous for the tiny irritating, stinging hairs on their stems and foliage.
How tall is a horsenettle?
Horsenettle has an erect stem that stands about 60 to 100 cm tall with a few branches that are covered with tiny hairs at the top of the plant. All branches and stems are sharp, hard and have 5 mm long spikes.
When to apply herbicide to horsenettle?
In the fall after the interval mowing, treat re-growth with systemic herbicides. Systemic herbicide applied to mature Horsenettle in the late summer to fall is the most effective form of treatment.
What is a Devil's Tomato?
The 3-5 inch leaves are alternately arranged and irregularly lobed and toothed. And because it bears yellow tomato-like fruits that are very poisonous, it is sometimes called Devil’s Tomato. You will typically find horse nettle growing in waste places or along fences rows in pastures and fields.
What is the color of horse nettle berries?
Horsenettle berries have a tomato-like appearance; they ripen to a golden yellow color. Ripening fruit of Horse Nettle. Horse nettle bears tomato-like fruits that turn yellow in fall; these were photographed in November. Post navigation. Previous Post Shaggy Mane Mushrooms. Next Post Seedbox.
How tall do sage trees get?
They reach 2-3 feet in height and can be found throughout the growing season in the South. The ripened fruit persists long after the leaves have faded and are a common site in winter fields. Related plants include Bittersweet Nightshade, Ground Cherry, and Jimsonweed.
What is a horse nettle?
Horse nettle is a perennial native that is a member of the potato family of plants. You may recognize the flower and leaves as bearing some similarities to common garden vegetables like potatoes, tomatoes, and eggplant. The flowers are star-shaped, white to purple in color, with 5 lobes. A prominent yellow center contains a group of long anthers.
What is the hardest weed to eradicate?
Image by Ted Bodner, Southern Weed Science Society, Bugwood.org. Horsenettle ( Solanum carolinense ), a poisonous member of the nightshade family, is one of the most difficult weeds to eradicate since it resists most attempts at control.
How do horsenettle leaves come to life?
Like most seedlings, horsenettle begins life as two small, rounded leaves sitting opposite of each other on a short stem. The first true leaves come as a cluster. Although it still has smooth leaf margins at this point, the plant is beginning to show its true nature because it has prickly spines along the vein on the undersides of the leaves. As they mature, some of the leaves develop lobes and numerous hairs and spines. The stems also develop spines.
How long does it take for horsenettle to kill?
It can take two years or more to kill the plants this way. To speed things along, however, you can apply systemic herbicides after mowing while the plant is weak. In late summer or fall, apply an herbicide labeled for use against horsenettle, such as Weed-B-Gone.
How to control horsenettle?
Horsenettle Control. Frequent mowing is about the only method for the organic control of horsenettle. The roots are at their weakest right after the plant flowers, so let it flower before mowing for the first time. Afterward, continue mowing regularly to further weaken the roots.
What do star shaped flowers look like?
In midsummer, star-shaped white or blue flowers bloom. They look like potato flowers, and this isn’t surprising since both potatoes and horsenettle are members of the nightshade family. The flowers are followed by yellow fruit, three-quarters of an inch (2 cm.) in diameter.
Does flame weeding kill horsenettle?
Flame weeding doesn’t kill the weed either because the penetrating roots reach depths of 10 feet (3 m.) or more, where they survive after the tops are burned away. For horsenettle, herbicide is the most practical control method for many gardeners.
How much horse nettle poisoning does it take?
The amount of horse nettle it takes to produce a toxic effect varies, depending on how concentrated the solanine isin the plant, and how much is eaten. However, it generally takes a pound or more to cause poisoning. A single mouthful or a few berries will have little effect on a mature horse. The glycoalkaloids act rapidly once they are absorbed ...
What is the name of the glycoalkaloid that irritates the oral and gastric mucosa?
ico_close. Horse nettle, like many plants in the nightshade family, contains solanine , a glycoalkaloid that irritates the oral and gastric mucosa and affects the autonomic nervous system, which controls various internal organs.
Why do horses avoid nettle?
Horses tend to avoid the plant because it is distasteful, and they are unlikely to eat enough to cause serious problems unless the weed is rampant in their pasture or they have no other suitable forage. The amount of horse nettle it takes to produce a toxic effect varies, depending on how concentrated the solanine isin the plant, ...
How does horse nettle work?
Eradicating established horse nettle is difficult. The plant propagates from seeds, and it also spreads through an extensive underground root system.
What happens if you eat horse nettle?
These signs may be followed by depression, weakness, depressed respiration, dilated pupils, collapse and death if horse nettle is eaten in large amounts. Thanks for watching! Thanks for watching!
How tall does a sage plant grow?
The plant grows up to two feet tall, with an erect, branching structure; the leaves are alternate and can grow to four to six inches long, with irregular wavy or lobed margins. The leaves and stems are often covered with fine hairs and prickly spines.
Is horse nettle poisonous to livestock?
Toxicity is reduced (but not eliminated) when the plant is dried. Any livestock---including cattle, sheep, goats and pigs as well as horses---may be poisoned after eating large quantities of horse nettle.
What is the difference between a false nettle and a stinging nettle?
Distinguish from False Nettle (Boehmeria cylindrica). False nettle has finer toothed margins of the leaves, and the leaves themselves tend to be a little more bigger at the base. The stems of each flower cluster are erect and angle upward from the stem, unlike stinging nettle (which are droopy). There are no stinging hairs on any part of this plant. This is despite the fine hairs found on the leaves and stems.
What is the name of the stinging nettle?
Do an image and information search on the Internet for "Stinging Nettle" or Urtica dioica. The latter name will give you the best results of what stinging (or common) nettle looks like in order to better help you identify the species out in the field. Also, some extra information to know may be useful:
Why are nettles called nettles?
Hundreds of species of plants that are commonly called "nettles" exist in the world, many which are named because of the similarity to a common weed known as Stinging Nettle or Common Nettle ( Urtica dioica) by leaf shape, growth habit, or stinging ability thanks to the tiny needle-like hairs that exude a skin-irritant when touched.
How many species of nettles are there in the urtica family?
There are actually 35 to 40 different species in the Urtica genus in Family Urticaceae. All true nettles are a part of the Nettle Family Urticaceae. There are many other species of plants with the common name "nettle" attached to it, but may not be part of the aforementioned taxonomical family.
What is Marsh Hedge Nettle?
Distinguish from Marsh Hedge Nettle (Stachys palustris). This plant (a native to North America), a part of the mint family ( Lamiaceae) can be fairly easily confused with stinging nettle when in the pre-blooming stage. Like stinging nettle, there are opposite leaves and pubescent or hairy leaves and stems.
How tall is Deadnettle?
6. Distinguish from White Deadnettle (Lamium album). A member of the Mint family ( Lamiaceae) this perennial is native to Europe and introduced to North America. It is typically shorter than stinging nettle, growing only from around 1.5 feet (0.46 m) to 3.2 feet (0.98 m) tall.
Where are stinging nettles native to?
This species, along with its subspecies, is distributed all over the world, from Africa to Europe and in North and South America. Stinging nettle is native to western North America, Europe, Asia, northern Africa, and introduced elsewhere.
