Bittersweet

This is an article on a plant. There is also a song called "Bittersweet".

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Bittersweet

Scientific classification

Kingdom:

Plantae

Division:

Magnoliophyta

Class:

Magnoliopsida

Order:

Solanales

Family:

Solanaceae

Genus:

Solanum

Species:

S. dulcamara

Binomial name

Solanum dulcamara

L.

Bittersweet (Solanum dulcamara) is a species of vine in the potato genus Solanum, family Solanaceae. It is native to Europe and Asia, and widely naturalised elsewhere, including North America, where it is an invasive problem weed. It occurs in a very wide range of habitats, from woodlands to scrubland, hedges and marshes.

Bittersweet is a semi-woody herbaceous perennial vine, which scrambles over other plants, capable of reaching a height of 4 m where suitable support is available, but more often 1-2 m high. The leaves are 4-12 cm long, roughly arrowhead-shaped, and often lobed at the base. The flowers are in loose clusters of 3-20, (1-1.5 cm) across, star-shaped, with five purple petals and yellow stamens and style pointing forward. The fruit is an ovoid red berry about 1 cm long, soft and juicy, poisonous to humans and livestock but edible for birds, which disperse the seeds widely. As with most Solanum species, the foliage is also poisonous to humans.

Bittersweet is used in homeopathic medicine. Its main usage is for conditions that have an impact on the skin, mucous membrane and the membrane (synovial membrane) around the joints. Bittersweet is an important remedy for treating herpes infections and allergies.

The name bittersweet is also confusingly used in some areas for some species in the genus Celastrus (the Staff vines, family Celastraceae), e.g. American bittersweet (C. scandens) and Oriental bittersweet (C. orbiculatus).

Other common names include Trailing Nightshade, Bittersweet, Trailing Bittersweet, Climbing Nightshade, Blue Bindweed, Bitter Nightshade, Fellenwort, Dogwood, Woody Nightshade, Poisonflower, Poisonberry, Snakeberry, and Scarlet Berry.

Check out the following recipes that are tagged "Bittersweet":
Eletta's Frozen Chocolate Mousse With Pistach, Kahlua Mocha Mousse, Chocolate Peanut Butter Terrine, Low-Fat Brownies, Creamy, Fudgy, Nutty Brownies, Creamy, Fudgy, Nutty Brownies, Cappuccino Brownies With White Chocolate Sauc, Everything Cookies, Best Chocolate Brownie, Bittersweet Chocolate Creme Brulee W/Caramelized Bananas, Mini Chocolate Cakes with White Chocolate Lava, Coffee Toffee Pie, White Chocolate Lasagna With Peanut Ice Cream, Valentine Lollipops, Tiramisu Parfaits, Bailey's Frozen Chocolate Chunk Mousse Cake, Bittersweet Chocolate Ice Cream, Banana Chip Cake with Whipped Mocha Frosting, Queen of Sheba Cake, Deep Chocolate Torte With Coffee Buttercream, Bittersweet Chocolate Chunk Cookies, Bittersweet Chocolate Walnut Squares, Choclate Chestnut Bourbon Torte W/ A Kentucky Bourbon Cream, Flourless Foolproof Fabulous Chocolate Cake, Chocolate Rain Forest Praline Torte, Bittersweet Chocolate Coated Truffles *, Brandied Chocolate Truffles, Champagne Truffles, Almond Chocolate Creme Brulee, Chocolate Berries Or Orange Sections, Chocolate Cointreau Truffles, Chocolate Mint Terrine, Coffee-Walnut Toffee, Coffee-Walnut Toffee, Chocolate Ghirardelli Squares, Crisp Chocolate Truffles, Chocolate Gingerbread with Bittersweet Glaze, Souffleed Chocolate Cake, Grand Marnier Chocolate Truffles, Mary Bergin's Individual Chocolate Truffle Cake, Chocolate-Stuffed Peanut Butter Scones, Mocha Macadamia Decadence, Mocha Macadamia Decadence, Chocolate Pavlova, Chocolate Lover's Dream, Chocolate Lava Cakes, Chocolate Chestnut Bourbon Torte W/a Kentucky, Narsai's Original Chocolate Decadence, Bittersweet Chocolate Ganache, Bittersweet Chocolate Coated Truffles