Solanum viarum
Solanum donianum
tropical soda apple
mullein 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 1–3 cm;
blade simple, ovate to elliptic, 4.5–13 × 2–5.5 cm, margins entire, base rounded to acute.
extra-axillary, sessile or nearly so, unbranched, 3–5-flowered.
terminal to extra-axillary, much-branched, with numerous flowers, 2–8 cm.
0.7–1.1 cm in flower, 1–2 cm in fruit.
erect and 0.7–1 cm in flower and 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, 2–4 mm, moderately stellate-pubescent, lobes triangular;
corolla white, stellate, 1.5–2 cm diam., without interpetalar tissue;
stamens equal;
anthers narrow and tapered, 3–4.5 mm, dehiscent by terminal pores;
ovary glabrous or sparsely glandular-pubescent.
light green mottled with dark green when young, yellow when ripe, globose, (1.5–)2–3 cm diam., glabrous, without sclerotic granules.
red, globose, 0.5–1 cm diam., glabrous or sparsely glandular-pubescent, without sclerotic granules.
reddish brown, flattened, 2–3 × 2–2.5 mm, minutely pitted.
yellow, flattened, 2.5–3.5 × 1.5–2.5 mm, minutely pitted.
= 24.
= 24.
Solanum viarum
Solanum donianum
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 donianum is occasional in southern Florida. The oldest name for this species is S. verbascifolium Linnaeus, but it has been widely misapplied to S. erianthum and is now rejected.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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