Solanum torvum |
Solanum lumholtzianum |
|
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bhankatiya, devil's fig, fausse aubergine, kausoni, prickly solanum, terongan, turkey berry |
Sonoran nightshade |
|
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 to densely armed, 0.2–0.7 m, prickles whitish or yellowish, straight, bristlelike, 4–8 mm, 20+ per cm of stem, sparsely pubescent, hairs sessile to short-stalked, unbranched, glandular, sometimes with a few unbranched, eglandular hairs, abaxial leaf surfaces with sparse, sessile, 4–6-rayed, stellate hairs, central ray equal to 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 2.5–6.5 cm; blade simple to compound, broadly ovate, 5–13 × 2.5–9 cm, margins 2–3-times lobed or divided with 4–5 main leaflets per side, leaflets with deep, acute lobes, base truncate. |
Inflorescences | extra-axillary, unbranched or branched, 10–20-flowered, to 6 cm. |
extra-axillary, unbranched, 6–10-flowered, 3–8 cm. |
Pedicels | 1–1.5 cm in flower, erect and 1.5–2.5 cm in fruit. |
0.5–1.5 cm in flower, erect and 0.5–1.5 cm 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, 3.5–4.5 mm, sparsely to moderately glandular-pubescent, lobes linear-lanceolate; corolla yellow, stellate, 1.3–1.8 cm diam., with ovate or narrowly deltate lobes, with sparse interpetalar tissue; stamens unequal, lowermost longer and curved, adjacent pair somewhat shorter, uppermost pair shortest; anthers narrow and tapered, dehiscent by terminal pores, shortest anthers 4.5–6 mm, medium-sized anthers 5.6–7.5 mm, longest anther 6.5–8.6 mm; ovary glabrous. |
Berries | green to yellow, globose, 1–1.5 cm diam., glabrous, without sclerotic granules. |
brown, globose, 1–1.4 cm diam., glabrous, dry, without sclerotic granules. |
Seeds | light brown, flattened, 2.5–3 × 2–2.5 mm, minutely pitted. |
dark brown, plump, 3–3.5 × 2.5–3 mm, radially ridged with hilum sunken in a deep notch. |
2n | = 24. |
= 24. |
Solanum torvum |
Solanum lumholtzianum |
|
Phenology | Flowering year-round in frost-free areas. | Flowering Aug–Oct. |
Habitat | Disturbed sites. | Sandy or gravelly soils, washes, low ground near wet depressions, along stream banks, roadsides. |
Elevation | 0–10 m. (0–0 ft.) | 900–1400 m. (3000–4600 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]
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AZ; Mexico (Sinaloa, Sonora) |
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 the flora area, Solanum lumholtzianum is found only in Pima and Santa Cruz counties. (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 | Bartlett: Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 44: 629. (1909) |
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