Silverleaf nightshade plants

The photo below shows silverleaf nightshade spreading in a recently disked field near UC Davis. Note that it's pretty much the only plant present: it can regrow from small rhizome fragments, and is very tolerant of hot and dry conditions. It's also poisonous to livestock. It is a listed noxious weed in many states and in a number of Mediterranean-climate countries worldwide. 

Because physical control methods are ineffective with this weed, herbicides are usually required for management. Some suggested treatments can be found here.

Silverleaf nightshade has a kind of sinister charm (see the flowers below) and is sometimes used in xeriscapes. Although I enjoy seeing this plant in the field, I won't be inviting it into my garden.