Solanum triflorum |
Solanum torvum |
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cut-leaf nightshade, three flower nightshade |
bhankatiya, devil's fig, fausse aubergine, kausoni, prickly solanum, terongan, turkey berry |
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Habit | Herbs, annual, decumbent to prostrate, unarmed, to 0.4 m, fleshy, nearly glabrous to moderately pubescent, hairs unbranched, to 2 mm, eglandular, rarely glandular. | 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. |
Leaves | petiolate; petiole 0.5–2.5 cm; blade simple, elliptic to oblong, 2–5 × 1–3 cm, margins shallowly lobed to deeply and regularly pinnatifid with 3–6 lobes per side, lobe margins entire or occasionally coarsely lobed, base cuneate and decurrent. |
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. |
Inflorescences | extra-axillary, unbranched, umbel-like, 1–6-flowered, 1–3 cm. |
extra-axillary, unbranched or branched, 10–20-flowered, to 6 cm. |
Pedicels | spreading and 0.5–1.5 cm in flower, reflexed and 0.5–1.5 cm in fruit. |
1–1.5 cm in flower, erect and 1.5–2.5 cm in fruit. |
Flowers | radially symmetric; calyx accrescent and covering base of berry, unarmed, 2–4(–7) mm, moderately pubescent, lobes deltate, reflexed; corolla white or light purple with green or purplish central star, stellate, 0.5–1 cm diam., with sparse interpetalar tissue; stamens equal; anthers narrowly ellipsoidal, 2.5–4 mm, dehiscent by terminal pores that open into longitudinal slits; ovary glabrous. |
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. |
Berries | shiny dark green to purplish black, globose, 0.8–2 cm diam., glabrous, with 13–30 sclerotic granules. |
green to yellow, globose, 1–1.5 cm diam., glabrous, without sclerotic granules. |
Seeds | yellow, plump, 2–3 × 2–2.5 mm, minutely pitted. |
light brown, flattened, 2.5–3 × 2–2.5 mm, minutely pitted. |
2n | = 24. |
= 24. |
Solanum triflorum |
Solanum torvum |
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Phenology | Flowering Apr–Sep. | Flowering year-round in frost-free areas. |
Habitat | Disturbed areas, roadsides, stream banks, along railroad tracks, prairie dog towns. | Disturbed sites. |
Elevation | (0–)700–2900 m. ((0–)2300–9500 ft.) | 0–10 m. (0–0 ft.) |
Distribution |
AZ; CA; CO; IA; ID; KS; MA; MI; MN; MO; MT; ND; NE; NM; NV; OK; OR; SD; TX; UT; WA; WY; AB; BC; MB; SK; South America (Argentina) [Introduced in Europe, Africa, Australia]
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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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Discussion | Solanum triflorum is found in South America (Argentina) and is also considered to be native to central and western North America. It is occasionally adventive in the eastern United States. It is poisonous to livestock and can become a serious weed in cultivated fields, especially in the Great Plains. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
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.) |
Source | FNA vol. 14. | FNA vol. 14. |
Parent taxa | Solanaceae > Solanum | Solanaceae > Solanum |
Sibling taxa | ||
Name authority | Nuttall: Gen. N. Amer. Pl. 1: 128. (1818) | Swartz: Prodr., 47. (1788) — name proposed for conservation |
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