| | Solanum species of eastern and northern Australia |
Habit. Erect. Rhizomatous perennial shrub. 0.4–1 m high. Large stems prickles present.
Branchlets. Branchlets white or grey or yellow. Branchlet prickles absent or present, 0–10 per decimetre, straight, broad-based or curved, broad-based, 2–7 mm long, 4–7 times longer than wide, with stellate hairs only at base. Branchlet hairs stellate. Branchlet stellate hairs very dense, 0.2–0.5 mm diameter, stalks 0–0.2 mm long, lateral rays 7–10, lateral rays porrect or ascending, central ray 0.2–1 times as long as laterals, central ray not gland-tipped, thready or rigid. Branchlet simple hairs absent.
Leaves. Leaves ovate or triangular, 2.5–6.5 cm long, 1.1–2.6 cm wide, 1.4–3 times longer than broad, with basal lobes only, lobes 1 on each side, lobes obtuse. Leaf apex obtuse or acute, base cuneate or obtuse or cordate or hastate, oblique part 0–4 mm long, obliqueness index 0–10 percent. Petioles 0.5–2 cm long, 15–35% length of lamina, prickles absent.
Upper leaf surface. Upper leaf surface green, prickles absent. Upper leaf surface stellate hairs distributed throughout, protostellae absent, very sparse to sparse, 0.4–0.7 mm apart, 0.2–0.4 mm across, stalks 0 mm long, lateral rays 5–10, lateral rays porrect, central ray 0.7–1.5 times as long as laterals, central ray not gland-tipped. Upper leaf surface simple hairs absent. Upper leaf surface short glandular hairs absent.
Lower leaf surface. Lower leaf surface white to grey or yellowish, prickles absent. Lower leaf surface stellate hairs dense to very dense, 0.05–0.1 mm apart, 0.4–0.5 mm diameter, stalks 0–0.1 mm long, lateral rays 8–13, lateral rays porrect, central ray 0.5–1 times as long as laterals, central ray not gland-tipped. Lower leaf surface simple hairs absent. Lower leaf surface short glandular hairs absent.
Inflorescence. Inflorescence supra-axillary, cymose (pseudo-racemose), common peduncle absent or present, common peduncle 0–10 mm long, rachis prickles absent, 6–20-flowered, with all flowers bisexual. Flowers 5-merous. Pedicels at anthesis 4–6 mm long, same thickness throughout, 0.5–0.7 mm thick at mid-point, prickles absent. Calyx tube at anthesis 1.5–2 mm long. Calyx lobes at anthesis deltate, 1–2.5 mm long. Calyx prickles at anthesis absent. Calyx stellae dense to very dense, white, 0.25–0.4 mm across, stalks 0–0.1 mm long, lateral rays 8–10, central ray 0.7–1.5 times as long as laterals, central ray not gland-tipped. Calyx simple hairs absent. Calyx short glandular hairs absent. Corolla mauve or purple, 5–8 mm long, deeply lobed, inner surface glabrous. Anthers 3.5–4.5 mm long. Ovary glabrous. Functional style 5.5–7 mm long, protruding between anthers, glabrous.
Fruits. Fruiting calyx lobes less than half length of mature fruit or lobes more than half length of mature fruit, prickles absent. Mature fruits 1–11 per inflorescence, globular, 7–8 mm diameter, red, interior juicy, succulent, pedicels 8–12 mm long, pedicels 0.7–1 mm thick at mid-point. Seeds pale yellow, 3.5–3.8 mm long.
Distribution and habitat. Queensland, New South Wales, Northern Territory. Qld: Gregory South, Gregory North, Burke. NSW: North Far Western Plains. Shrublands in arid zone.
Classification. Subg. Leptostemonum. Data source: specimens.
Habit. Erect. Annual or non-rhizomatous perennial shrub. 0.3–1.2 m high. Large stems prickles absent.
Branchlets. Branchlets ridged. Branchlets white or grey. Branchlet prickles absent. Branchlet hairs short glandular or simple. Branchlet stellate hairs absent. Branchlet simple hairs antrorse, curved, not gland-tipped, 0.25–0.7 mm long, short glandular hairs sparse or dense.
Leaves. Leaves lanceolate or elliptical or ovate, 1.2–6 cm long, 0.5–2.5 cm wide, 2.2–2.7 times longer than broad, entire or shallowly lobed throughout, lobes 0 on each side or 3–5 on each side, lobes obtuse, lobing index 1–1.1. Leaf base cuneate, oblique part 0–3 mm long. Petioles 0.5–1 cm long, winged, prickles absent.
Upper leaf surface. Upper leaf surface green or grey-green, prickles absent. Upper leaf surface stellate hairs absent, protostellae absent, absent from surface. Upper leaf surface simple hairs antrorse, curved, moderate to dense, not gland-tipped. Upper leaf surface short glandular hairs absent.
Lower leaf surface. Lower leaf surface greenish-white or white to grey, prickles absent. Lower leaf surface stellate hairs absent. Lower leaf surface simple hairs antrorse, curved, moderate to dense, not gland-tipped. Lower leaf surface short glandular hairs absent.
Inflorescence. Inflorescence supra-axillary, umbellate, common peduncle 10–25 mm long, rachis prickles absent, 4–7-flowered, with all flowers bisexual. Flowers 5-merous. Pedicels at anthesis 2–4 mm long, same thickness throughout, prickles absent. Calyx tube at anthesis 1–1.5 mm long. Calyx lobes at anthesis elliptic or deltate, 0.8–1.5 mm long. Calyx prickles at anthesis absent. Calyx stellae absent. Calyx simple hairs present. Calyx short glandular hairs absent. Corolla white, 3.5–7 mm long, deeply lobed, inner surface glabrous. Anthers 2.5–3.5 mm long. Functional style 5–6 mm long, protruding between anthers, with simple hairs.
Fruits. Fruiting calyx lobes less than half length of mature fruit, prickles absent. Mature fruits globular, 7–9.5 mm diameter, black or purple, dull. Seeds 1.4–1.8 mm long.
Distribution and habitat. Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria. Qld: Moreton, Darling Downs. NSW: North Coast, Central Coast, South Coast, Northern Tablelands, Central Tablelands. Shrubby eucalypt woodland, remote from rainforest.
Classification. Naturalised. Sect. Solanum. Common name: Velvety Nightshade. Data source: Fl of SEQ, Fl of NZ, specimens, Henderson 1974.
Cite this publication as: ‘Bean, A.R. 2012 onwards. Solanum species of eastern and northern Australia. Version: 25th January 2023. delta-intkey.com’.