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What is the difference between black nightshade and black goji berry? A quick guide to telling them apart

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When these two plants are mentioned, many people may have a vague impression of them, yet still feel a bit confused and cannot remember what kind of plant they are. Does black nightshade remind you of Chinese Paladin 3? How is black goji berry different from goji berry? Do a whole bunch of questions pop up? Many people think these two plants look very similar and find them hard to tell apart, so today I will teach you how to identify them.

1. Distinguishing them by appearance

Black nightshade is a plant we often see near wasteland, and it has many other names, such as heiyouyou and so on. Every summer it produces small white flowers that look umbrella-shaped. After the flowers fade, round fruits form; when unripe they are green, and as they approach maturity they gradually turn purple-black. Its leaves look somewhat heart-shaped or ovate, and are green.

Black goji berry: this plant is actually quite easy to tell apart from black nightshade by appearance. Black goji berry is a shrub. Its fruits are black, but they cluster together in groups, the branches have thorns, the leaves are thick and fleshy in texture, and it produces pale purple flowers. Although its fruits are also round, there is a slight depression at the top of each fruit.

2. Different distribution

Black nightshade grows almost everywhere in our country. It is commonly seen in places such as beside crops, as well as in villages, rural areas, and wasteland.

Black goji berry mainly grows in the desert regions of western China, where it is relatively common. It adapts well to places that are somewhat harsh for ordinary plants, such as salinized sandy land and dry riverbeds. It is commonly distributed in places such as Gansu, Qinghai, Xinjiang, and Ningxia in our country.

3. Different main values

Black goji berry has excellent health benefits. It can not only protect eyesight but also boost resistance. In addition, because its fruit contains a large amount of anthocyanins, it is also a very good beauty treasure for women who love beauty, as it can improve the skin, prevent wrinkles, and increase sleep, with very good results. Besides the above, this plant's own environmental value is also outstanding, and it is a particularly excellent tree for soil and water conservation.

The main use of black nightshade is in medicinal applications. In fact, the whole plant can be used as medicine; it can not only clear heat and detoxify, but also reduce swelling and dissipate stasis, and its range of applications is very wide.

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