Solanum torvum |
Solanum dimidiatum |
|
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bhankatiya, devil's fig, fausse aubergine, kausoni, prickly solanum, terongan, turkey berry |
Torrey nightshade, Torrey's nightshade, western 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, perennial, erect, sparsely to moderately armed, to 1 m, prickles cream to yellowish, straight or slightly curved, to 6.5 mm, sparsely to densely pubescent, hairs whitish, sessile to short-stalked, stellate, (4–)6–10-rayed, central ray 1-celled and equal to or shorter 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 1–4 cm; blade simple, ovate, 6–15 × 3–10 cm, margins sinuate or shallowly to deeply lobed with 2–4 lobes per side, lobe margins entire to coarsely lobed, base truncate to cuneate and often oblique. |
Inflorescences | extra-axillary, unbranched or branched, 10–20-flowered, to 6 cm. |
extra-axillary, 1–several times branched, to ca. 20-flowered, 6–14 cm. |
Pedicels | 1–1.5 cm in flower, erect and 1.5–2.5 cm in fruit. |
1–2.5 cm in flower, 1.5–3 cm and curved downward 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. |
radially symmetric; calyx not accrescent, unarmed or with sparse prickles, 6–14 mm, densely stellate-pubescent, lobes ovate-lanceolate; corolla lavender, pale blue, or sometimes white, stellate to stellate-pentagonal or rotate-stellate, 2–4.6 cm diam., with abundant interpetalar tissue at margins and bases of lobes; stamens equal; anthers narrow and tapered, 5–9 mm, dehiscent by terminal pores; ovary minutely pubescent, hairs simple and stellate, rarely densely stellate-pubescent, glandular and eglandular. |
Berries | green to yellow, globose, 1–1.5 cm diam., glabrous, without sclerotic granules. |
yellow, subovoid to depressed-globose, 1–2 × 1–2.5 cm, glabrous, without sclerotic granules. |
Seeds | light brown, flattened, 2.5–3 × 2–2.5 mm, minutely pitted. |
yellow, flattened, 1.9–3 × 1.7–2.5 mm, minutely pitted. |
2n | = 24. |
= 72. |
Solanum torvum |
Solanum dimidiatum |
|
Phenology | Flowering year-round in frost-free areas. | Flowering Apr–Oct. |
Habitat | Disturbed sites. | Prairies, woodlands, disturbed areas. |
Elevation | 0–10 m. (0–0 ft.) | 20–700(–2000) m. (100–2300(–6600) 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]
|
AR; CA; IL; KS; LA; MO; NM; OK; SC; TX; Mexico (Nuevo León) [Introduced in Australia]
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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.) |
Solanum dimidiatum is found mainly in the southcentral United States, with outlier populations in Illinois, Missouri, New Mexico, and South Carolina. The species is introduced in California, where it is considered a noxious weed by the California Department of Agriculture. (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 | ||
Synonyms | S. torreyi | |
Name authority | Swartz: Prodr., 47. (1788) — name proposed for conservation | Rafinesque: Autik. Bot., 107. (1840) |
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