CROW (Conserve Reading on Wednesdays)
Wednesday, 7th September 2011
Maiden Erlegh Nature Reserve ~ Tree care and meadow raking

While clearing weeds from newly planted trees around the BMX track at Paddick Drive in Earley, CROW volunteers noticed a number of patches of the plant pictured above. The flowers resembled those of members of the solanum family such as potato, tomato and deadly nightshade and its stems although much thinner were also like those of the potato. An uprooted plant revealed what appeared to be a small tuber about the size of a pea.

Investigations indicate the plant is Solanum vernei otherwise known as the Purple Potato. Previously it was only recorded at one site in the UK (in Berkshire) from which it disappeared but a colony was discovered at one other site near Paddick Drive last year.

This plant is not the same as the purple potato that is available commercially and on no account should it be eaten.

Our thanks to Ricki Bull for identifying the plant.