The root and fruit of this nightshade are used in medicine. An obnoxious weed, more or less frequent to abundant throughout the state. It prefers a sandy soil. Found mostly in cultivated and fallow fields, waste places, and sometimes in open woods. There is little doubt that this species is native to Indiana because it was reported in 1834 by Clapp from the vicinity of New Albany, and in 1819 by Thomas from the vicinity of Vincennes. The early botanists of the southern part of the state reported it as common in that area, but the botanists of northern Indiana reported it as rare. It has, no doubt, been introduced in later years at least in the northern part of the state.