Solanum viarum
Solanum sarrachoides
tropical soda apple
viscid 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 0.5–3 cm;
blade simple, ovate to elliptic, 3–7.5 × 3–6 cm, margins entire to sinuate-dentate, base truncate to cordate.
extra-axillary, sessile or nearly so, unbranched, 3–5-flowered.
leaf-opposed or occasionally extra-axillary, unbranched, umbel-like, 2–5(–7)-flowered, 0.5–1.5 cm.
0.7–1.1 cm in flower, 1–2 cm in fruit.
0.5–1 cm in flower and fruit, spreading in flower, reflexed 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 accrescent and nearly covering berry, unarmed, 2–3 mm, sparsely to moderately pubescent, lobes narrowly triangular;
corolla white with yellowish or greenish central star, rotate-stellate, 0.5–1 cm diam., with abundant interpetalar tissue;
stamens equal;
anthers ellipsoidal, 1.2–2 mm, dehiscent by terminal pores that open into longitudinal slits;
ovary glabrous.
light green mottled with dark green when young, yellow when ripe, globose, (1.5–)2–3 cm diam., glabrous, without sclerotic granules.
dull pale green, globose, 0.5–1 cm diam., glabrous, with 4–6 sclerotic granules.
reddish brown, flattened, 2–3 × 2–2.5 mm, minutely pitted.
pale yellow, flattened, 1.5–2 × 1–1.5 mm, nearly smooth.
= 24.
= 24.
Solanum viarum
Solanum sarrachoides
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.)
Many accounts of Solanum sarrachoides in North America actually refer either to S. nitidibaccatum or to a mixture of the two species. In North America, S. sarrachoides is much less widespread and common than S. nitidibaccatum.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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