Solanum nigrescens
Solanum diphyllum
divine nightshade
twinleaf nightshade, twoleaf nightshade
petiolate;
petiole 0.5–2 cm;
blade simple, ovate to ovate-elliptic, 4–10.5 × 2–5 cm, margins entire or shallowly sinuate-dentate, base decurrent.
petiolate;
petiole 0.2–0.5 cm;
blade simple, elliptic, 0.9–6.8 × 0.6–2.2 cm, margins entire, base acute to attenuate or decurrent.
extra-axillary or leaf-opposed, unbranched, umbel-like to racemelike, (2–)5–10-flowered, 1–3.5 cm.
leaf-opposed, unbranched, 5–20-flowered, 0.3–1.2 cm.
spreading and 0.5–1 cm in flower, spreading and 1–1.5 cm in fruit.
ca. 0.5 cm in flower, ca. 1.2 cm and erect in fruit.
radially symmetric;
calyx not accrescent, unarmed, 1–2 mm, sparsely pubescent, lobes deltate;
corolla white, rarely purplish, often with green or purplish central star, stellate, 1–1.5 cm diam., with sparse interpetalar tissue;
stamens equal;
anthers ellipsoidal, 2–3 mm, dehiscent by terminal pores that open into longitudinal slits;
ovary glabrous.
radially symmetric;
calyx somewhat accrescent, unarmed, 1.5–2 mm, glabrous, lobes deltoid;
corolla white, often tinged with lavender, stellate, 0.7–1 cm diam., without interpetalar tissue;
stamens equal;
anthers oblong, 1.5–2 mm, dehiscent by terminal pores that open into longitudinal slits;
ovary glabrous.
dull green or purplish, globose, 0.5–0.8 cm diam., glabrous, with (4–)5–6(–13) sclerotic granules.
yellow to orange, globose, 0.7–1.2 cm diam., glabrous, without sclerotic granules.
tan, flattened, 1.2–1.5 × 1–1.1 mm, finely pitted.
pale yellow or tan, flattened, ca. 3 × 2.5 mm, minutely pitted.
= 24.
= 24.
Solanum nigrescens
Solanum diphyllum
Solanum nigrescens is widespread in Central and northern South America and the Caribbean and extends northward into the southeastern United States along the Gulf Coast and slightly inland. Where sympatric with S. americanum, it can be distinguished by its longer anthers and dull green or purplish berries with appressed to spreading calyx lobes. Plants collected as weeds in rice and sugarcane fields of Louisiana and provisionally identified as the Chinese species S. merrillianum T. N. Liou are somewhat intermediate between S. americanum and S. nigrescens and could represent recent hybrid populations (S. Knapp et al. 2019). Solanum nigrescens differs from S. douglasii in its shorter anthers and longer filaments relative to anther length; moreover, S. douglasii is usually found west of the Rocky Mountains, whereas S. nigrescens occurs in the southeastern United States. The ranges of S. nigrescens and S. interius overlap (for example, in Texas). Solanum nigrescens may be distinguished from S. interius by its usually acute calyx lobes, smaller seeds, and more numerous sclerotic granules in the fruits. Solanum nigrescens differs from S. nigrum in its more slender peduncles and pedicels, smaller seeds, and fruits with sclerotic granules.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Solanum diphyllum is often cultivated for its brightly colored fruits and can escape from cultivation in tropical and subtropical areas. It occurs sporadically and does not appear to be common, but in other areas where it has escaped it has become naturalized (Asia; S. Knapp 2002b).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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