Unarmed annual herbs to 1 m, pubescence of simple hairs; stems often angular, sparsely pubescent. Leaves ovate, 4-10 long, 3-7 cm wide, apically obtuse, basally cuneate and decurrent, entire or coarsely dentate, pubescent or glabrate; petiole 2-5 cm long. Inflorescences extra-axillary umbels; peduncle 2-4 cm long; pedicel 0.8-1.2 cm long. Flowers with calyx cupular, 2-3 mm long, the lobes subtriangular, 1-1.5 mm long, ciliate; corolla white, 10 mm long, the lobes ovate-oblong, 3-3.5 mm long, spreading; filaments 1-1.5 mm long, anthers oblong, 2.5-3.5 mm long; style mostly pubescent. Berry dull black, globose, 8-10 mm across; fruiting pedicel strongly deflexed; fruiting calyx applied to berry; seeds discoid, 2 mm across.
TAIPEI: Kawakami s. n. 1907. HSINCHU: Chienshih, Litungshanchuang, Wang & Lin 1971. MIAOLI: Sasaki s. n. 1912. TAICHUNG: Wuling Farm, Liu 273. PINGTUNG: Chunjih, Chichia Forest Tract, Liu 705; Hsinpei, D’Arcy 19287.
Widely distributed in temperate Asia, Europe, India, and Japan. Taiwan, a common weed of cultivation. [600-3000 m]. Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.
The name S. nigrum has been commonly used to include many distinct but similar species, and more than one taxon may be represented in the material hitherto treated here under this name.
