Enchanter’s nightshade

Message from Clive to FoSCP and Ian : Mon 15/07/2024 11:54

Quiet on the reserve today with heavy showers. But as I was walking through one of the cut-through paths. I noticed these flowers. It comes up as Enchanters Nightshade on my recogniser app. If that is so, I understand that it is common but I had not seen it here before.
Clive

Message from Ian to FoSCP and Clive: Mon 15/07/2024 14:03

Indeed, it is Enchanters Nightshade [Circaea lutetiana]. I noticed it the other week but couldn’t remember the name – and I used it as a substitute for Fuchsia to feed to one of my tropical stick insects. Strangely, this is the first recording of it in the reserve – and it is now on the list under your name.
Ian

Thanks, guys, a new species is always welcome. Despite its name, enchanter’s nightshade is not closely related to the reserve’s other nightshade, woody nightshade (Solanum dulcamara): it’s closest relatives are the Onagraceae, evening primroses.

Like any plant that goes by the common name of nightshade, Circaea lutetiana has long been considered poisonous but, while it tastes very bad because of its high levels of tannins, it is not especially toxic.

Good find!