Twoleaf nightshade is a woody shrub native to the American continents. It
is occasionally cultivated as a garden plant and has become naturalized in
parts of India. Twoleaf nightshade has shiny unequal paired leaves. one is
large and elliptic-obovate, the other small and rounded. Small white
flowers are borne fascicled in leaf axils. The drooping white flowers have
five recurved petals and stamens with large yellow anthers. The flowers
are pollinated by wasps, bees, and flies—the vibration of the wings causes
the anthers to release the pollen. The many-seeded berries are initially
green, and ripen to yellow-orange. Birds eat the berries and are the
primary dispersers of the seeds. Flowering: May-July.
Medicinal uses:
Fruits are given as tonic and laxative, to
improve appetite and are useful in asthma and skin
diseases. Green fruits are crushed and applied locally on
ringworm by Kharwar, Khairwar, Baiga, Baiswar, Kol,
Nayak, Bind and several tribes and local inhabitants of
Uttar Pradesh.