| | Solanum species of eastern and northern Australia |
Habit. Erect. Rhizomatous perennial shrub. 0.15–0.3 m high. Large stems prickles absent.
Branchlets. Branchlets grey or rusty or brown. Branchlet prickles absent. Branchlet hairs stellate. Branchlet stellate hairs very dense, 0.4–0.5 mm diameter, stalks 0 mm long, lateral rays 7–9, lateral rays porrect, central ray 3–5 times as long as laterals, central ray not gland-tipped.
Leaves. Leaves ovate or broadly ovate, 2.5–6 cm long, 1.3–4.3 cm wide, 1.4–2 times longer than broad, entire. Leaf apex obtuse, base obtuse or cordate, oblique part 0–1 mm long, obliqueness index 0–3 percent. Petioles 0.9–2.8 cm long, 30–55% length of lamina, prickles absent.
Upper leaf surface. Upper leaf surface green, prickles absent. Upper leaf surface stellate hairs distributed throughout, protostellae present, moderate density to dense, 0.15–0.25 mm apart, 0.25–0.35 mm across, stalks 0 mm long, lateral rays 7–9, lateral rays porrect, central ray 3–5 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 greenish-white or white to grey, prickles absent. Lower leaf surface stellate hairs dense to very dense, 0.1–0.2 mm apart, 0.3–0.6 mm diameter, stalks 0 mm long, lateral rays 7–8, lateral rays porrect, central ray 2–5 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, solitary or sessile (rachis very short or absent) or cymose (pseudo-racemose), common peduncle absent or present, common peduncle 0–2 mm long, rachis prickles absent, 1–2-flowered, with all flowers bisexual. Flowers 5-merous. Pedicels at anthesis 4–7 mm long, same thickness throughout, c. 0.7 mm thick at mid-point, prickles absent. Calyx tube at anthesis 1–3 mm long. Calyx lobes at anthesis elliptic, 4–6.5 mm long. Calyx prickles at anthesis absent. Calyx stellae very dense, yellow, 0.3–0.4 mm across, stalks 0 mm long, lateral rays 7–8, central ray 3–5 times as long as laterals, central ray not gland-tipped or gland-tipped. Calyx simple hairs absent. Calyx short glandular hairs absent. Corolla mauve, 6–11 mm long, rotate or shallowly lobed, inner surface glabrous. Anthers 3–4 mm long. Ovary glabrous or with short glandular hairs only. Functional style 5–6.5 mm long, protruding between anthers, glabrous or with short glandular hairs only.
Fruits. Fruiting calyx lobes exceeding mature fruit, prickles absent. Mature fruits 1–2 per inflorescence, globular, 5.5–8 mm diameter, red, 1-locular (septum absent or incomplete), placenta not apparent, interior juicy, succulent, pericarp 0.3–0.5 mm thick, pedicels 10–16 mm long, pedicels 0.8–0.9 mm thick at mid-point. Seeds pale yellow, 2.2–2.8 mm long.
Distribution and habitat. Queensland. Qld: Leichhardt, Port Curtis. Semi-evergreen vine thicket or brigalow/belah.
Classification. Subg. Leptostemonum. Data source: specimens.
Illustrations. • type specimen.
Cite this publication as: ‘Bean, A.R. 2012 onwards. Solanum species of eastern and northern Australia. Version: 25th January 2023. delta-intkey.com’.
