Solanum torvum |
Solanum davisense |
|
---|---|---|
bhankatiya, devil's fig, fausse aubergine, kausoni, prickly solanum, terongan, turkey berry |
Davis horsenettle |
|
Habit | Shrubs or trees, erect, sparsely to moderately armed, 1–4 m, prickles brownish, straight to recurved, 3–7 mm, moderately to densely pubescent, hairs sessile to short-stalked, stellate, 4–8-rayed, central ray shorter than or equal to lateral rays, moderately pubescent with unbranched, glandular hairs on inflorescences and calyces. | Herbs, annual, erect, moderately armed, 0.4–0.8 m, prickles whitish or yellowish, straight, needlelike, 3–15 mm, moderately to densely pubescent, hairs unbranched, glandular and eglandular, abaxial leaf surfaces also with sessile, few-rayed, stellate hairs, central ray equal to or longer than lateral rays. |
Leaves | petiolate; petiole 1–5 cm; blade simple, ovate to elliptic, 7–23 × 4–14 cm, margins subentire to coarsely lobed with 3–4 lobes per side, lobe margins entire to coarsely lobed, base truncate to subcordate and asymmetrical. |
petiolate; petiole 2–6 cm; blade simple to compound, broadly ovate, 5–10 × 2.5–8 cm, margins 2–3 times lobed or divided with 3–4 main leaflets per side, leaflets with acute lobes, base truncate. |
Inflorescences | extra-axillary, unbranched or branched, 10–20-flowered, to 6 cm. |
extra-axillary, unbranched, 5–9-flowered, 4–7 cm. |
Pedicels | 1–1.5 cm in flower, erect and 1.5–2.5 cm in fruit. |
1–1.5 cm in flower, 1–1.5 cm and erect in fruit. |
Flowers | radially symmetric; calyx slightly accrescent, unarmed, 4–8 mm, sparsely to moderately pubescent with unbranched, gland-tipped hairs, lobes lanceolate; corolla white, stellate, 2–3 cm diam., with sparse interpetalar tissue; stamens equal; anthers narrow and tapered, 6–9 mm, dehiscent by terminal pores; ovary glabrous or glandular-puberulent at apex. |
bilaterally symmetric; calyx accrescent and tightly covering fruit, densely prickly, 3–5 mm, densely pubescent, lobes linear; corolla violet or blue, pentagonal-stellate, 1.4–2 cm diam., with interpetalar tissue at the margins and bases of lobes; stamens unequal, lowermost much longer and curved; anthers narrow and tapered, dehiscent by terminal pores, short anthers yellow, 4–5.5 mm, longer anther purplish, 5.5–8.5 mm; ovary glabrous. |
Berries | green to yellow, globose, 1–1.5 cm diam., glabrous, without sclerotic granules. |
brown, globose, 0.8–1 cm diam., glabrous, dry, without sclerotic granules. |
Seeds | light brown, flattened, 2.5–3 × 2–2.5 mm, minutely pitted. |
dark brown, flattened, 2.6–3 × 2–2.5 mm, minutely pitted. |
2n | = 24. |
= 24. |
Solanum torvum |
Solanum davisense |
|
Phenology | Flowering year-round in frost-free areas. | Flowering Jun–Sep. |
Habitat | Disturbed sites. | Igneous soils, sand or gravel streambeds. |
Elevation | 0–10 m. (0–0 ft.) | 900–2100 m. (3000–6900 ft.) |
Distribution |
AL; FL; Mexico; Central America; West Indies; South America (Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Venezuela) [Introduced in Asia, Africa, Indian Ocean Islands, Pacific Islands, Australia]
|
TX; Mexico (Coahuila) |
Discussion | Solanum torvum is listed by the United States federal government and several states as a noxious weed. It is occasional to rare in peninsular Florida and could possibly become invasive elsewhere in subtropical climates. The green fruits are used in Asian and West Indian cuisine, often as an addition to soups and curries. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
In Texas, Solanum davisense is known only from the Chinati, Chisos, and Davis mountains. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Source | FNA vol. 14. | FNA vol. 14. |
Parent taxa | Solanaceae > Solanum | Solanaceae > Solanum |
Sibling taxa | ||
Name authority | Swartz: Prodr., 47. (1788) — name proposed for conservation | Whalen: Wrightia 5: 234, fig. 35. (1976) |
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