Believed to be the original host of the Colorado potato beetle, this
annual is a pest on rangelands because of its spine-covered stems and
fruits. Spines are long, straight, sharp, and straw-colored. It is
common on desert plains and mesas at elevations from 1,000 up to 7,000
feet, blooming from June to August. The leaves and unripe fruits of this
and several other species are reportedly poisonous, as they contain an
alkaloid, solanin.
_Solanum rostratum_ Potato Family
[Illustration: BUFFALOBUR]