poisonous?

I found this plant, a bit munched, and wondered what it was and if the berries were poisonous.

 

I think its nightshade of some kind.

 

I would agree with Pete - got it growing in my garden, and mine's healthier than yours

Pretty star like flowers before the fruit which can be red or black

 

There's masses of poisonous plants in our gardens, why is it that a few tend to make people uneasy about them.

 

Hi,Fran, Pete,I found this poor specemin growing by the compost heap in a disgarded pot. Now you mention it I have had nightshade before purple flowers? potato type, but they are usually pulled up before fruiting. I'll try some on the wife.

 

Nightshades: Solanaceae

Family includes potato, tomato, cape gooseberry, etc.

Woody nightshade Solanum dulcamara has purple flowers with a yellow centre and bright red berries, shrubby habit; whilst deadly nighshade Atropa belladonna has dull short tubular flowers and dark purple or black berries. Usually a climber. Both are poisonous, the berries especially so.

They are alkaline soil limestone and chalk plants in the wild. Full sun good drainage. Dangerous to pets, children and some livestock if ingested. Sap can also cause contact dermatitis.

Edit: There is another black berried nightshade: Black or Garden Nightshade Solanum nigrum

[ 06. October 2005, 09:59 PM: Message edited by: frogesque ]

 

based on your help I now believe it to be Black nightshade, Solanum nigrum, the berries are black
and dangerous to kids but not for humans.
http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/n/nighbl04.html
quite common apparently, still it's interesting and if it comes next year I'll know what it is.
Thanks for your efforts