BONUS: If you think you solved the main puzzle, can you think of any possible counterexamples to this definition (i.e., a ____ that lacks one or more of these characteristics, or something that has all these characteristics but is not a ____)?
You might see any of these five closely related plants flowering in a Bay Area garden right now. Four of them are most likely there for the tasty vegetables they produce; the fifth is more likely to be an unwanted weed, unless you're in a poisoner's garden. What are these plants and which one produces a toxic fruit?
Answer:
A: eggplant B: tomato C: pepper 💀 D: nightshade 💀 E: potato
Tomatoes and potatoes were both once widely believed to be poisonous due to their association with nightshade. Legends abound about those Prometheus-like heroes who taught their compatriots to eat tomatoes and potatoes without fear, and why not? I know I'm grateful for these delicious foods.
I always thought D was "deadly nightshade", but that turns out to be a different variety. This plant, "woody nightshade", is merely a nightshade that happens to be deadly.
A green thumbs up to solvers Atticus, Charlie, Hazel, Leo S., Maddy, and Reade!