Only on rare occasions I am walking through the city of Vienna as I did today when something quite strange happened to me, in connection with this plant here: Solanum nigrum (Schwarzer Nachtschatten, Black Nightshade or Sunberry):
(Nice one, isn't it? Oh come on, it really is nice ... okay then, I also took pictures of the Greek church, probably you like that better, but I need to emphasise that this story definitely is not babout the Greek church.)
Anyway, so I was standing there (kneeling actually) and photographing this weed when a guy in a tailored suit - a complete stranger of course - asked me wether I know that plant. I answered no, I don't, but I'm determined to find out; I also told him that I'm sure it is a night shadow plant but that I'm not sure about the species.
To my big surprise this guy told me straight that it is Solanus nigrum, and that this species is a very common weed. (He was right on both counts, obviously.)
I thought I've met a botanist (even though that guy didn't look like one at all) but later when I met a friend he told me that Solanum nigrum is well known as a psychoactive plant - and that this other guy most likely wasn't a botanist but most likely was (or is) a consumer of it. I guess I never will try and eat Solanum nigrum to confirm its psychoactive effect, nor do I recommand that any of you does.
And anyway, as I found out, this effect might be close to non-existant depending on where those plants grow: depending on soil, or climate, or whatever - the reasons are not known exactly - this plant may even be eaten like vegetable, without any negative side-effects at all. (And 'negative' side-effects they are even if you appreciate the poison in it as each narcotic eventually will have negative side-effects.)
