Solanum viarum
Solanum campechiense
tropical soda apple
redberry nightshade
petiolate;
petiole 3–6 cm;
blade simple, ovate to suborbiculate, 7–10(–20) × 6–8(–15) cm, margins coarsely lobed with 3–5 lobes per side, lobe margins entire to coarsely toothed, base truncate to cordate.
petiolate;
petiole 1–5 cm;
blade simple, ovate, 4–13 × 3–12 cm, margins deeply lobed with 2–4 lobes per side, these with additional coarse, acute teeth or shallow lobes, base cordate.
extra-axillary, sessile or nearly so, unbranched, 3–5-flowered.
extra-axillary, unbranched, 1–3(–6)-flowered, 0.5–2(–5) cm.
0.7–1.1 cm in flower, 1–2 cm in fruit.
0.5–1 cm in flower, 1–2 cm in fruit.
radially symmetric;
calyx somewhat accrescent, unarmed or sparsely prickly, 3–4 mm, densely pubescent, lobes triangular;
corolla greenish or whitish, stellate, 1.5–2.5 cm diam., without interpetalar tissue;
stamens equal;
anthers narrow and tapered, 5.5–7(–10) mm, dehiscent by terminal pores;
ovary densely pubescent, hairs glandular and eglandular.
radially symmetric;
calyx somewhat accrescent and partially covering fruit, densely prickly, 4–6 mm, densely stellate-pubescent, lobes narrowly triangular;
corolla white, bluish white, blue, or lilac, rotate-campanulate, 1–1.5 cm diam., with abundant interpetalar tissue;
stamens equal;
anthers narrow and tapered, 2–5 mm, dehiscent by terminal pores;
ovary glabrous.
light green mottled with dark green when young, yellow when ripe, globose, (1.5–)2–3 cm diam., glabrous, without sclerotic granules.
purplish, greenish, or yellowish, globose, 1.5–2 cm diam., glabrous, without sclerotic granules.
reddish brown, flattened, 2–3 × 2–2.5 mm, minutely pitted.
yellowish brown, flattened, 1.8–3 × 1.4–2 mm, pustulate.
= 24.
Solanum viarum
Solanum campechiense
In the United States, Solanum viarum was first collected in Florida in 1988 and has subsequently become an aggressive and invasive species in the Southeast. It is on the Federal Noxious Weeds List and is classified as a noxious weed or plant pest in many states. Cattle and other animals eat the fruits and spread the seeds through their feces, and the seeds are coated with a sticky substance that makes them adhere to farm equipment when the plants are mowed. It can form large patches that are difficult to eradicate due to their extensive root systems and sharp prickles. It is a major agricultural pest and a threat to native ecosystems.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
In the flora region, Solanum campechiense is found in southernmost Texas. Although D. S. Correll and M. C. Johnston (1970) stated that the fruits are cherry-red at maturity, the specimens seen indicate that they turn purplish when ripe.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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