Solanum torvum
Solanum deflexum
bhankatiya, devil's fig, fausse aubergine, kausoni, prickly solanum, terongan, turkey berry
sonoita nightshade
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 0.5–2 cm;
blade simple, elliptic to elliptic-ovoid, 1–4.5 × 0.5–2.5 cm, margins entire, base rounded to obtuse and often decurrent.
extra-axillary, unbranched or branched, 10–20-flowered, to 6 cm.
nearly sessile, extra-axillary or subopposite leaves, unbranched, racemelike, 1–5-flowered.
1–1.5 cm in flower, erect and 1.5–2.5 cm in fruit.
0.5–1.2 cm in flower, 1–2 mm and spreading or nodding in fruit.
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.
radially symmetric;
calyx not accrescent, unarmed, 3–9 mm, moderately to densely pubescent, lobes linear-lanceolate;
corolla white, rotate, 0.5–1 cm diam., with abundant interpetalar tissue;
stamens equal;
anthers oblong, slightly tapered, 1.5–3 mm, dehiscent by terminal pores that open into longitudinal slits;
ovary glabrous.
green to yellow, globose, 1–1.5 cm diam., glabrous, without sclerotic granules.
white to greenish and semitransparent, globose, 5–12 mm diam., glabrous, without sclerotic granules.
light brown, flattened, 2.5–3 × 2–2.5 mm, minutely pitted.
light brown, somewhat flattened, ca. 2.5 × 1.5 mm, notched where connected to placenta, ridged.
= 24.
Solanum torvum
Solanum deflexum
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.)
Solanum deflexum occurs sporadically in southeastern Arizona (Cochise, Pima, Pinal, and Santa Cruz counties). It is unique in its fruits with explosive dehiscence. As the berries mature, they build up turgor pressure until they burst, propelling seeds up to several feet from the parent plant. Plants of S. deflexum were often identified as S. adscendens Sendtner (M. Nee 1989), a distinct species found only in South America (S. Stern et al. 2013).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist
USDA Plants Database
