Buffalobur nightshade facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Buffalobur nightshade
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Solanales
Family:	Solanaceae
Genus:	Solanum
Subgenus:	Leptostemonum
Section:	Crinitum
Species:	S. rostratum
Binomial name
Solanum rostratum Dunal
Synonyms
Solanum cornutum auct.

Solanum rostratum is a wild plant from the nightshade family. It is also known by many common names like buffalo-bur or spiny nightshade. This plant grows naturally in the United States and Mexico.

Discover the Buffalo-Bur Plant

What Does the Buffalo-Bur Look Like?

The buffalo-bur is an annual plant, meaning it lives for only one growing season. It is a herb that can grow into a tumbleweed. Individual plants can reach about 1 to 1.5 meters (3 to 5 feet) tall.

Its stems and leaves have many sharp spines. The leaves are deeply cut, almost like feathers. The plant produces bright yellow flowers. These flowers are about 2 to 3.5 centimeters (0.8 to 1.4 inches) wide. They have five petals that form a star shape.

How Buffalo-Bur Flowers Work

Buffalo-bur flowers have a special feature called heteranthery. This means they have two different kinds of anthers. Anthers are the parts of a flower that produce pollen. One set of anthers is for feeding bees, while the other set helps with pollination.

Medium to large-sized bees, like bumblebees, help pollinate the buffalo-bur. They carry pollen from one flower to another.

How Buffalo-Bur Spreads Seeds

After the flowers, the plant produces a berry fruit. This fruit is covered by a prickly outer layer called a calyx. When the berries dry out, they split open while still on the plant. This process is called dehiscence. It releases the tiny seeds inside.

Interesting Facts About Buffalo-Bur

Charles Darwin's Interest

The famous biologist Charles Darwin was very interested in Solanum rostratum. Just over a week before he passed away, he ordered seeds of this plant. He wanted to study its unique anthers (heteranthery).

Home of the Colorado Potato Beetle

The buffalo-bur plant is the original home of the Colorado potato beetle. This insect, Leptinotarsa decemlineata, used to live on buffalo-bur plants. However, in 1859, people noticed that the beetles started eating potato plants instead. Potato plants are a tastier food source for them. The beetles then quickly spread across potato farms in the eastern United States.