Circaea alpina

Circaea alpina commonly called enchanter’s nightshade or small enchanter’s nightshade is a 10-30 cm tall perennial herb with opposite, petioled, leaves. The petioles have a wing beneath. The leaves are ovate, 2-6 cm and coarsely dentate. The flowers and fruits are clustered near the top of the fruiting raceme; each raceme bears 15 or less white or pink flowers in July. The seed is a bur with one seed. C. alpina prefers a moist, upland habitat. C. alpina can reproduce vegetaively and via stolons. Circaea alpina is distributed throughout all of Canada and North Carolina through Maine and New Mexico through Washington. Circaea alpina is distributed throughout all of Canada and North Carolina through Maine and New Mexico through Washington. Hybrids. Circaea alpina will hybridize with Circaea lutetiana producing sterile offspring that persists in vegetative colonies.