Solanum viarum
Solanum dimidiatum
tropical soda apple
Torrey nightshade, Torrey's nightshade, western horsenettle
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 1–4 cm;
blade simple, ovate, 6–15 × 3–10 cm, margins sinuate or shallowly to deeply lobed with 2–4 lobes per side, lobe margins entire to coarsely lobed, base truncate to cuneate and often oblique.
extra-axillary, sessile or nearly so, unbranched, 3–5-flowered.
extra-axillary, 1–several times branched, to ca. 20-flowered, 6–14 cm.
0.7–1.1 cm in flower, 1–2 cm in fruit.
1–2.5 cm in flower, 1.5–3 cm and curved downward 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 not accrescent, unarmed or with sparse prickles, 6–14 mm, densely stellate-pubescent, lobes ovate-lanceolate;
corolla lavender, pale blue, or sometimes white, stellate to stellate-pentagonal or rotate-stellate, 2–4.6 cm diam., with abundant interpetalar tissue at margins and bases of lobes;
stamens equal;
anthers narrow and tapered, 5–9 mm, dehiscent by terminal pores;
ovary minutely pubescent, hairs simple and stellate, rarely densely stellate-pubescent, glandular and eglandular.
light green mottled with dark green when young, yellow when ripe, globose, (1.5–)2–3 cm diam., glabrous, without sclerotic granules.
yellow, subovoid to depressed-globose, 1–2 × 1–2.5 cm, glabrous, without sclerotic granules.
reddish brown, flattened, 2–3 × 2–2.5 mm, minutely pitted.
yellow, flattened, 1.9–3 × 1.7–2.5 mm, minutely pitted.
= 24.
= 72.
Solanum viarum
Solanum dimidiatum
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.)
Solanum dimidiatum is found mainly in the southcentral United States, with outlier populations in Illinois, Missouri, New Mexico, and South Carolina. The species is introduced in California, where it is considered a noxious weed by the California Department of Agriculture.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
LA Plants
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist
USDA Plants Database
CA
IL Wildflowers
KS Wildflowers
MO Plants
