Solanum viarum
Solanum jamaicense
tropical soda apple
Jamaican 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 or sessile;
petiole to 1 cm;
blade simple, rhombic, 4–13 × 3–8 cm, margins entire or with 2–5 shallow lobes per side, lobe margins entire, base cuneate and decurrent.
extra-axillary, sessile or nearly so, unbranched, 3–5-flowered.
extra-axillary, unbranched, 5–15-flowered, 1–3 cm.
0.7–1.1 cm in flower, 1–2 cm in fruit.
0.5–1 cm in flower, 1–1.5 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 not accrescent, unarmed, 2–7 mm, moderately to densely stellate-pubescent, hairs long-stalked, lobes linear;
corolla white, stellate, 1–2 cm diam., without interpetalar tissue;
stamens equal;
anthers narrow and tapered, 3.5–5 mm, dehiscent by terminal pores;
ovary glabrous to very sparsely glandular-puberulent.
light green mottled with dark green when young, yellow when ripe, globose, (1.5–)2–3 cm diam., glabrous, without sclerotic granules.
bright shiny red to orange, globose, 0.4–1.2 cm diam., glabrous, without sclerotic granules.
reddish brown, flattened, 2–3 × 2–2.5 mm, minutely pitted.
yellow, flattened, 1–1.5 × 0.5–1 mm, minutely pitted and ridged.
= 24.
= 24.
Solanum viarum
Solanum jamaicense
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 jamaicense is thought to have been spread to Florida by birds that eat the bright red berries. It was first seen in the state in 1930 and, although locally invasive in hammocks of central Florida, has not become a widespread pest.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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