The nightshade family includes several pernicious
weeds that are not only competitive, but are toxic
to humans and other animals. Jimsonweed (Datura
stramonium L.) is a poisonous hallucinogenic plant that
is also a very formidable weed of agricultural settings.
Its leaves and seeds contain solanaceous alkaloids toxic
to humans and livestock (119,120). Several species of the
genus Solanum are aggressive weeds.
The genus Solanum
is usually divided into two groups, the prickly nightshades
and nonprickly nightshades. The prickly nightshades
possess thorn-like prickles that cause human and animal
injury; however, several prickly nightshades depend on
animals for fruit and seed dispersal.
