Solanum viarum
Solanum stoloniferum
tropical soda apple
Fendler wild potato, Fendler's horsenettle, wild potato
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 1.5–4 cm, with pair of entire lunate pseudostipules at base;
blade compound, elliptic to ovate, 7.5–20 × 3.5–8 cm, margins divided with 1–4 pairs of leaflets, these sometimes interspersed with smaller, interjected leaflets, lowermost leaflets sometimes greatly reduced in size, leaflet margins entire, base cuneate to cordate.
extra-axillary, sessile or nearly so, unbranched, 3–5-flowered.
terminal, extra-axillary or leaf-opposed, generally forked or 3-fid, 3–26-flowered, to 10 cm.
0.7–1.1 cm in flower, 1–2 cm in fruit.
articulated near middle, 1.1–3.7 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, 4–8 mm, lobes deltate-acuminate;
corolla purple, blue, pale pink, or rarely white, pentagonal to rotate, 1.8–3.3 cm diam., with abundant interpetalar tissue;
stamens equal;
anthers oblong, slightly tapered, 3.5–6.5 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.
green, sometimes with dark green stripes or white spots, globose or slightly ovoid, 0.9–1.7 cm diam., glabrous, without sclerotic granules.
reddish brown, flattened, 2–3 × 2–2.5 mm, minutely pitted.
greenish white, rounded, 1–2 mm diam., rugose.
= 24.
= 48.
Solanum viarum
Solanum stoloniferum
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 stoloniferum is widespread in highland Mexico. Its northern range extends into New Mexico, southeastern Arizona, and southwestern Texas. It is one of the most common and polymorphic species of wild potatoes in North America and Mexico.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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