Unfortunately negative labels stick. And weeds cop the brunt of public opinion. Many weeds are unnecessarily exterminated because of mis-information and labels.
“Deadly Nightshade” is probably the most extreme example of this. Although the real Deadly Nightshade (Atropa belladonna) it is very deadly, it is NOT NATURALISED in Australia. So it does not randomly spring up in your paddock. Someone would have to buy it from a nursery and plant it there.
Deadly Nightshade berries are large and surrounded by large bracts. Blackberry Nightshade berries are smaller, with much smaller bracts.
Deadly Nightshade flowers are very distinctive
But many people call Blackberry Nightshade (Solanum nigrum) by the more toxic common name.
Both nightshade species are members of the Solanacea family, but so are tomatoes 🍅. Ripe Blackberry Nightshade berries contains antioxidants and other compounds used intraditional tonics, but immature fruit and other plant parts are known to contain the toxic glycoalkaloid solanine.
I have often seen our horses eating isolated Blackberry Nightshade plants. And yesterday I sort-of captured our Australian Stockhorse having a munch on video 🤣. (Video Link to Come)
Keep in mind that there was plenty of feed in the paddock, there was only the odd Blackberry Nightshade plant in a bare patch near an old bonfire, and the horse only ate one mouthful before moving on.
It is also featured the Weed Forager’s Handbook( https://www.amazon.com.au/Weed-Foragers-Handbook-Medicinal-Australia/dp/1864471212) with information about eating the ripe berries and making tea from the leaves.
I certainly encourage research about the "Facts" that we often believe and take for granted. It is particularly important to assess the credibility of information, as Dr Google and the Facebook Queen are too frequently assumed to be authorities, when they often are the source of myths.
If you want to have a chat about any plants of concern in your paddocks, get in contact.
I can either ID from a photo, arrange a TeleConsult, or come for a property Visit.