Horse Nettle Solanum carolinense

The Horse Nettle is actually a member of the Nightshade family, and not a nettle at all. It is, however, very prickly, and though its flowers are beautiful, it is usually considered a weed. Its low status is a result of its almost unbelievable ability to stand up to attempts to eradicate it. As a result, it is frequently to be found in both cow pastures and cultivated fields, as well as in woods and meadows. The photo here was taking in a cornfield, where, as is visible from the picture, tilling had prevented the growth of almost all other weeds, although there were numerous specimens of the Horse Nettle throughout the field.