Solanum pseudocapsicum
Solanum diphyllum
Jerusalem cherry, Jerusalem- or winter-cherry, Jerusalem-cherry nightshade
twinleaf nightshade, twoleaf nightshade
petiolate;
petiole 0.2–1 cm;
blade simple, elliptic, 1–9 × 0.5–4.5 cm, margins entire, base acute to attenuate.
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.
leaf-opposed, unbranched, 1–8-flowered, 0.2–1 cm.
leaf-opposed, unbranched, 5–20-flowered, 0.3–1.2 cm.
0.3–0.7 cm in flower, 0.8–1 cm and erect in fruit.
ca. 0.5 cm in flower, ca. 1.2 cm and erect 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, 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.
yellow to orange or red, globose, 1–2 cm diam., glabrous, without sclerotic granules.
yellow to orange, globose, 0.7–1.2 cm diam., glabrous, without sclerotic granules.
yellowish, flattened with thickened margins, 3–4 × 2.5–3 mm, minutely pitted.
pale yellow or tan, flattened, ca. 3 × 2.5 mm, minutely pitted.
= 24.
= 24.
Solanum pseudocapsicum
Solanum diphyllum
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 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.)
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist
USDA Plants Database
