Lore: Cherokee used it as an insecticide to kill flies by putting crushed leaves in sweet milk.

Medical Uses: Despite it's toxicity this and other closely related Nightshades have been use medicinally. According to Foster & Duke the berries have been use to treat epilepsy and pain as a diuretic, antispasmodic, and aphrodisiac. The leaves have been used as an analgesic, poulticed on injuries or dermatitis or gargled for sore throats. The Cherokees used berries fried in grease as an ointment for mange in dogs and tied roots around baby's neck for teething, perhaps soothing the pain.Warning: All parts of this species are toxic and should not be taken internally without expert guidance. It contains poisonous aldaloids including solanine.

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One of the best general guides to wildflowers of the North Eastern and North Central United States. Newcomb's key is an excellent, simple method for identifying plants. Newcomb has drawings for almost every plant mentioned that are excellent aids to identifying the species. Though only the more common plants are covered this is often the first book I pick up when trying to identify a wildflower.

Wildflo wers of Tennessee the Ohio Valley and the Southern Appalachians

This is perhaps the best of many field guides covering this region. Featuring 446 excellent color photographs (located with the text) and mentioning as similar to those illustrated are another 800 or so species for a total coverage of over 1,200 species. The start of each family section includes line drawings of some of the species showing important features. The text includes the usual description, bloom season, range, habitat and additionally includes information such as medical uses and lore and how the species was named. This is the official field guide of the Tennessee Native Plant Society.