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bhankatiya, devil's fig, fausse aubergine, kausoni, prickly solanum, terongan, turkey berry

earleaf 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. Shrubs or small trees, erect, unarmed, 2–12 m, densely pubescent, hairs white, sessile to long-stalked, stellate to echinoid.
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 1–8 cm;

blade simple, elliptic to ovate, 11–31 × 4–14 cm, margins entire, base acute, often with smaller axillary leaves.

Inflorescences

extra-axillary, unbranched or branched, 10–20-flowered, to 6 cm.

terminal, becoming leaf-opposed, much-branched, 50–100-flowered, 5–24 cm.

Pedicels

1–1.5 cm in flower, erect and 1.5–2.5 cm in fruit.

erect and 0.2–0.5 cm in flower and 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 slightly accrescent, unarmed, 4–7.5 mm, densely pubescent, lobes deltate;

corolla purple, stellate-pentagonal, 1–1.5 cm diam., with abundant interpetalar tissue;

stamens equal;

anthers oblong, 2–3.5 mm, dehiscent by terminal pores that open into longitudinal slits;

ovary tomentose.

Berries

green to yellow, globose, 1–1.5 cm diam., glabrous, without sclerotic granules.

yellow, globose, 1–1.5 cm diam., tomentose, without sclerotic granules.

Seeds

light brown, flattened, 2.5–3 × 2–2.5 mm, minutely pitted.

yellowish brown, flattened, 1.5–2.5 × 1.5–2 mm, minutely pitted.

2n

= 24.

= 24.

Solanum torvum

Solanum mauritianum

Phenology Flowering year-round in frost-free areas. Flowering Mar–Jul.
Habitat Disturbed sites. Disturbed sites.
Elevation 0–10 m. (0–0 ft.) 0–500 m. (0–1600 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
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]
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
CA; FL; South America (Brazil, Uruguay) [Introduced also in Asia (India), Africa, Atlantic Islands, Indian Ocean Islands, Pacific Islands, Australia]
[BONAP county map]
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 Florida, Solanum mauritianum has become naturalized and common only at one site in Pasco County. It also occurs frequently in southern California from Santa Barbara south to San Diego with urban waifs in the Bay Area. It appears to be spreading into relatively undisturbed riparian areas in the San Gabriel Mountains and may become a widespread pest.

(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
S. americanum, S. aviculare, S. bahamense, S. campechiense, S. capsicoides, S. carolinense, S. chenopodioides, S. citrullifolium, S. cordicitum, S. davisense, S. deflexum, S. dimidiatum, S. diphyllum, S. donianum, S. douglasii, S. dulcamara, S. elaeagnifolium, S. emulans, S. erianthum, S. furcatum, S. hindsianum, S. interius, S. jamaicense, S. jamesii, S. laciniatum, S. lanceolatum, S. lumholtzianum, S. lycopersicum, S. marginatum, S. mauritianum, S. nigrescens, S. nigrum, S. nitidibaccatum, S. novomexicanum, S. perplexum, S. pseudocapsicum, S. pseudogracile, S. pumilum, S. rostratum, S. sarrachoides, S. seaforthianum, S. setigeroides, S. sisymbriifolium, S. stoloniferum, S. tampicense, S. tenuipes, S. triflorum, S. triquetrum, S. umbelliferum, S. viarum, S. wallacei
S. americanum, S. aviculare, S. bahamense, S. campechiense, S. capsicoides, S. carolinense, S. chenopodioides, S. citrullifolium, S. cordicitum, S. davisense, S. deflexum, S. dimidiatum, S. diphyllum, S. donianum, S. douglasii, S. dulcamara, S. elaeagnifolium, S. emulans, S. erianthum, S. furcatum, S. hindsianum, S. interius, S. jamaicense, S. jamesii, S. laciniatum, S. lanceolatum, S. lumholtzianum, S. lycopersicum, S. marginatum, S. nigrescens, S. nigrum, S. nitidibaccatum, S. novomexicanum, S. perplexum, S. pseudocapsicum, S. pseudogracile, S. pumilum, S. rostratum, S. sarrachoides, S. seaforthianum, S. setigeroides, S. sisymbriifolium, S. stoloniferum, S. tampicense, S. tenuipes, S. torvum, S. triflorum, S. triquetrum, S. umbelliferum, S. viarum, S. wallacei
Synonyms S. auriculatum
Name authority Swartz: Prodr., 47. (1788) — name proposed for conservation Scopoli: Delic. Fl. Faun. Insubr. 3: 16, plate 8. (1788)
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