Solanum torvum
Solanum rostratum
bhankatiya, devil's fig, fausse aubergine, kausoni, prickly solanum, terongan, turkey berry
buffalo berry, buffalo-bur, buffalobur nightshade, horned nightshade, spiny 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 2–10 cm;
blade simple to twice-compound, ovate to elliptic, (2–)4–16 × 3–12 cm, margins lobed to 1–2 times divided with 2–4 main leaflets per side, leaflets with deep, rounded lobes, base truncate to subcordate.
extra-axillary, unbranched or branched, 10–20-flowered, to 6 cm.
extra-axillary, unbranched, 5–12-flowered, 4–11 cm.
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.
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 or bristly, 7.5–12.5 mm, densely stellate-pubescent, lobes linear to lanceolate;
corolla yellow, rotate-pentagonal, 1.5–3.5 cm diam., with abundant interpetalar tissue;
stamens unequal, lowermost much longer and curved;
anthers narrow and tapered, dehiscent by terminal pores, short anthers 4, yellow, 6–8 mm, longer anther reddish or purplish, 10–14 mm;
ovary glabrous.
green to yellow, globose, 1–1.5 cm diam., glabrous, without sclerotic granules.
brown, globose, 1–1.2 cm diam., glabrous, dry, without sclerotic granules.
light brown, flattened, 2.5–3 × 2–2.5 mm, minutely pitted.
dark brown, flattened, 2–3 × 1.8–2 mm, minutely pitted and irregularly ridged.
= 24.
= 24.
Solanum torvum
Solanum rostratum
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 rostratum is widespread in the central Mexican highlands from Chihuahua and Coahuila to Puebla and Oaxaca, and its native range likely extends from Mexico City north to the United States Great Plains. It is widely introduced outside this presumed area of origin.
Solanum rostratum is considered a noxious weed in several states. It is often invasive in gardens, pastures, and disturbed areas. The plants are extremely spiny, and there are reports of pigs being poisoned by eating the berries and roots. This species is thought to be the original host of the Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata) before potatoes were widely cultivated in the western and central United States. The beetle then adopted potatoes as its primary host and rapidly spread eastward.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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