Solanum Species of Eastern Australia
| Solanum Species of Eastern Australia | |
Habit and juveniles. Prostrate, or sprawling. Herbaceous resprouter. 0.15–0.3 m high. Juvenile stage absent.
Branchlets. Adult branchlets grey, or brown. Adult branchlets prickles absent, or present; 0–15 per decimetre; straight, acicular; 6–10 mm long; 12–17 times longer than wide; glabrous. Adult branchlets hairs Type 2, or simple. Adult branchlets stellae absent. Adult branchlets simple hairs erect, straight; gland-tipped; 0.4–0.8 mm long. Adult branchlets Type 2 hairs dense.
Leaves. Adult leaves ovate, or broadly ovate; deeply lobed throughout; lobes 3–4 on each side; lobes obtuse; lobing index 2.3–5; lamina 3.5–5.5 cm long; lamina 2–4 cm wide; lamina 1.3–1.8 times longer than broad; apex obtuse; base cuneate or attenuate, or obtuse, or cordate; oblique part 0–6 mm long; obliqueness index 0–10 percent. Adult leaves petioles 1.2–4 cm long; 30–80 % length of lamina; winged; prickles present.
Upper leaf surface. Upper leaf surface green; prickles present on midvein and lateral veins; prickles 6–20; prickles straight, acicular; prickles 3–13 mm long; stellate hairs absent; stellate hair density absent from surface. Upper leaf surface simple hairs erect, straight; moderate to dense; gland-tipped; 0.5–0.9 mm long. Upper leaf surface Type 2 hairs absent.
Lower leaf surface. Lower leaf surface green; prickles present on midvein and lateral veins; prickles 11–25; prickles straight, acicular. Lower leaf surface stellate hair density absent. Lower leaf surface simple hairs erect, straight; sparse, or moderate to dense; gland-tipped; 0.3–0.6 mm long. Lower leaf surface Type 2 hairs absent.
Inflorescence. Inflorescence supra-axillary; cymose (pseudo-racemose); common peduncle 9–26 mm long; rachis prickles present; 4–8-flowered; strongly andromonoecious. Flowers 5-merous. Pedicels at anthesis 5–10 mm long; same thickness throughout; 0.4–0.5 mm thick at mid-point; prickles absent, or present. Calyx tube at anthesis 2–3 mm long. Calyx lobes at anthesis deltate; 2–4.5 mm long. Calyx prickles at anthesis present; 5–20 per flower; 3–6 mm long. Calyx stellae absent. Calyx simple hairs present. Calyx Type 2 hairs absent. Corolla white; 8–10 mm long; deeply lobed; inner surface glabrous. Anthers 4.5–5.5 mm long. Ovary with Type 2 hairs only. Functional style 6–7 mm long; erect; with Type 2 hairs only.
Fruits. Fruiting calyx lobes less than half length of mature fruit, or lobes more than half length of mature fruit; prickles 1–6 mm long. Mature fruits 1 per inflorescence; globular; c. 15 mm diameter; yellowish-green, or green, often streaked. Pedicels at fruiting stage 9–18 mm long; 0.9–1.2 mm thick at mid-point. Seeds pale yellow; 2.8–3.5 mm long.
Distribution and habitat. Queensland. Leichhardt, South Kennedy. Semi-evergreen vine thicket or brigalow/belah.
Miscellaneous. Data source: specimens.
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Cite this publication as: ‘Bean, A.R. 2005 onwards. Solanum species of Eastern Australia. Version: 8th October 2006. http://delta-intkey.com’.