Solanum pseudocapsicum
Solanum capsicoides
Jerusalem cherry, Jerusalem- or winter-cherry, Jerusalem-cherry nightshade
cockroach berry
petiolate;
petiole 0.2–1 cm;
blade simple, elliptic, 1–9 × 0.5–4.5 cm, margins entire, base acute to attenuate.
petiolate;
petiole 2–10(–13) cm;
blade simple, broadly ovate, 4–15 × 4–15 cm, margins shallowly to deeply lobed with 2–3 lobes per side, lobe margins entire to coarsely lobed, base cordate.
leaf-opposed, unbranched, 1–8-flowered, 0.2–1 cm.
extra-axillary, ± sessile, unbranched, 1–7-flowered.
0.3–0.7 cm in flower, 0.8–1 cm and erect in fruit.
ca. 1 cm in flower, 1.5–2 cm in fruit.
radially symmetric;
calyx somewhat accrescent, unarmed, 2.5–6 mm, glabrous to densely pubescent with dendritic hairs, lobes long-triangular;
corolla white, stellate, 1–1.5(–2.5) cm diam., without interpetalar tissue;
stamens equal;
anthers oblong, 3–4 mm, dehiscent by terminal pores that open into longitudinal slits;
ovary glabrous.
radially symmetric;
calyx somewhat accrescent, sometimes prickly, 4–6 mm, pubescent with minute glands and longer, simple, eglandular hairs, lobes triangular;
corolla white, stellate, 1.5–2 cm diam., without interpetalar tissue;
stamens equal;
anthers narrow and tapered, 5–6.5 mm, dehiscent by terminal pores;
ovary glabrous.
yellow to orange or red, globose, 1–2 cm diam., glabrous, without sclerotic granules.
dull orange to red, globose, 2–4 cm diam., glabrous, without sclerotic granules.
yellowish, flattened with thickened margins, 3–4 × 2.5–3 mm, minutely pitted.
yellow, flattened, winged at maturity, 4–6 × 4–6 mm, minutely pitted.
= 24.
= 24.
Solanum pseudocapsicum
Solanum capsicoides
Solanum pseudocapsicum is native from Mexico to Argentina, southern Brazil, and Uruguay. It is grown as an ornamental for its showy fruits, especially around Christmas. It occasionally escapes from cultivation in southern Florida and Texas. In Texas, it has become established and fairly common in Austin, in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, and in Goliad and Caldwell counties. Cultivated forms are usually glabrous, but some can have branched pubescence. The fruits are mildly poisonous when ingested by humans but can be highly toxic to dogs and some birds.
Solanum pseudocapsicum, along with S. diphyllum, has a distinctive leaf arrangement in which a longer, narrower leaf is paired with a shorter, often more rounded one.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Solanum capsicoides is presumed native to coastal Brazil and is grown as an ornamental for its showy red fruits. It has spread from cultivation and become naturalized in tropical and subtropical climates. In the flora region, it is found particularly in Florida. The name S. aculeatissimum Jacquin has been misapplied to S. capsicoides (for example, J. K. Small 1913; A. E. Radford et al. 1968; D. S. Correll and M. C. Johnston 1970; R. W. Long and O. Lakela 1971).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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