Solanum nigrum complex as a leaf vegetable?

[hortusbrambonii]

It seems that strains of Solanum nigrum and related species are used as a leaf vegetable in a lot of places around the globe( includingAfrica, India, Suriname,...) I was reminded of this when looking up what exactly it was that my Solanum villosum 'golden pearls' (I currently have here one that accidentally ended up in a career as a houseplant and is performing not that badly) was used for, apart from the small yellow sweet berries. It is used as a spinach-like green in Africa.

It seems that, even though these plants are quite easy to grow in the North, the use of these nightshades as a leaf vegetable only happens in Southern places.

I don't even know if I'm ready for 'nighshade-spinach'-stew, but I was wondereing if anyone here has experience with it....

[darrenabbey]

The plant seems to be considered poison by most European-derived cultures. Places with more residual culture seem to consider it good food. Given that in Europe there is a similar very poisonous plant with black berries, it makes sense they would develop the cultural tradition that round-black berries mean poison. I haven't tried the leaves, but I swear I saw them for sale at a local Asian grocer. I eat the berries on occasion.