Solanum umbelliferum var. obispoense
Obispo nightshade
Photo: parent species Solanum umbelliferum · (c) Adam J. Searcy, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Solanaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Solanum umbelliferum var. obispoense (Obispo nightshade) is a native California subshrub in the Solanaceae family.
Obispo nightshade is a California native perennial found in central coastal California in chaparral and oak woodlands at elevations of 300 to 800 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces deep blue-purple flowers in small clusters about 10 to 20 millimeters in diameter. Growing with decumbent to ascending stems up to 50 centimeters tall, it is covered in dark green herbage with spreading glandular hairs. Its leaves are oblong to lanceolate, 1 to 3 centimeters long, with irregular margins that are sometimes crinkled and occasionally feature 1 to 2 pairs of slender side lobes. The fruit is a small round berry 6 to 10 millimeters in diameter.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Chaparral, oak woodlands, often after fire
Elevation: 300-800 m
Bloom period
Solanum umbelliferum var. obispoense blooms Mar-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Lycianthes: Solanum anthers open by pores at tips; Lycianthes anthers split lengthwise.; vs Physalis: Solanum lacks papery lantern around fruit; Physalis has distinctive inflated calyx covering the berry.; vs Phacelia: Solanum has yellow anther cone; Phacelia has protruding stamens and coiled flower clusters.; vs Capsicum: Solanum has rotate star flowers; Capsicum has flowers with spreading petals not forming flat star.; vs Salvia: Solanum has 5 stamens forming yellow cone; Salvia has 2 stamens and square stems.
Frequently asked questions
Is Solanum umbelliferum var. obispoense native to California?
Yes. Solanum umbelliferum var. obispoense is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Solanum umbelliferum var. obispoense bloom?
Solanum umbelliferum var. obispoense blooms Mar-Jun.
What plant family does Solanum umbelliferum var. obispoense belong to?
Solanum umbelliferum var. obispoense is in the Solanaceae family, genus Solanum.
What habitat does Solanum umbelliferum var. obispoense grow in?
Solanum umbelliferum var. obispoense grows in Chaparral, oak woodlands, often after fire.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Solanum umbelliferum var. spencerae — Parish nightshade
- Solanum umbelliferum var. tenuilobatum — Narrow-lobed nightshade
- Solanum umbelliferum var. umbelliferum — Blue witch nightshade
- Solanum umbelliferum var. wallacei — Island nightshade
- Solanum umbelliferum var. xanti — Purple nightshade
- Solanum americanum — American black nightshade
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.