Apple-of-Peru

Apple-of-Peru, Shoo-Fly Plant

Nicandra physalodes (L.) Scop.

Solanaceae (Nightshade Family)

▲ ▼ seedlings

▲ ▼ young plants

▲ grooved stem

▲ hollow stems

▲ young plant

▲ ▼ flowers

▲ leaf underside

▲ apple-of-peru in soybean field in Illinois

Apple-of-Peru, Shoo-Fly Plant:

a summer annual plant that can grow 1-6’ tall; resistant to weed control in Round-Up ready cropping systems
has medium, light green leaves with teeth/lobes on edge
stem is hollow with pronounced vertical ribs
flowers are cup-shaped, usually sky-blue with a white center--showy
fruit is enclosed in papery capsule and has many, many seeds inside
is an escaped cultivated plant that is causing concern in Ohio, Illinois in soybean production
fermented plant tissue supposedly repels flies--hence “shoo-fly" name