| | Solanum species of eastern and northern Australia |
Habit. Erect. Rhizomatous perennial shrub. 0.3–0.6 m high. Large stems prickles absent.
Branchlets. Branchlets white or grey. Branchlet prickles absent. Branchlet hairs stellate. Branchlet stellate hairs very dense, 0.3–1 mm diameter, stalks 0–0.6 mm long, lateral rays 7–8, lateral rays porrect, central ray 0.7–1.2 times as long as laterals, central ray not gland-tipped, thready or rigid. Branchlet short glandular hairs absent.
Leaves. Leaves lanceolate or ovate, 2.5–7 cm long, 1.2–2.8 cm wide, 1.8–3 times longer than broad, entire. Leaf apex obtuse or acute, base obtuse or cordate, oblique part 0–3 mm long, obliqueness index 0–5 percent. Petioles 0.4–1.4 cm long, 15–35% length of lamina, prickles absent.
Upper leaf surface. Upper leaf surface grey-green, prickles absent. Upper leaf surface stellate hairs distributed throughout, protostellae absent, moderate density to dense, 0.1–0.3 mm apart, 0.4–0.7 mm across, stalks 0.1–0.3 mm long, lateral rays 7–8, lateral rays porrect, central ray 0.7–1.8 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 green or yellowish, prickles absent. Lower leaf surface stellate hairs dense to very dense, 0.05–0.15 mm apart, 0.5–0.7 mm diameter, stalks 0.2–0.4 mm long, lateral rays 7–8, lateral rays porrect, central ray 0.5–1.2 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 0–3 mm long, 3–5-flowered, with all flowers bisexual. Flowers 4–5-merous. Pedicels at anthesis 4–7 mm long, same thickness throughout, 0.9–1 mm thick at mid-point, prickles absent. Calyx tube at anthesis 1–2 mm long. Calyx lobes at anthesis elliptic, 2.5–7 mm long. Calyx prickles at anthesis absent. Calyx stellae very dense, white, 0.4–1 mm across, stalks 0–0.25 mm long, lateral rays 7–8, central ray 0.8–1.2 times as long as laterals, central ray not gland-tipped. Calyx simple hairs absent. Calyx short glandular hairs absent. Corolla mauve or purple, 7–10 mm long, rotate or shallowly lobed, inner surface glabrous. Anthers 3–4 mm long. Ovary with short glandular hairs only. Functional style 5.5–8 mm long, protruding between anthers, with short glandular hairs only.
Fruits. Fruiting calyx lobes exceeding mature fruit, prickles absent. Mature fruits 1 per inflorescence, globular, 4.5–9 mm diameter, red, glabrous or with a few scattered short glandular hairs, 1-locular (septum absent or incomplete), placenta not apparent, interior juicy, succulent, pericarp 0.2–0.25 mm thick, pedicels 6–11 mm long, pedicels 0.8–1.2 mm thick at mid-point. Seeds pale yellow, 2–2.3 mm long.
Distribution and habitat. Queensland. Qld: Moreton, Darling Downs, Burnett, Leichhardt, Port Curtis. Shrubby eucalypt woodland, remote from rainforest, lancewood communities (dominated by Acacia catenulata, shirleyi, burrowii, etc.).
Classification. Subg. Leptostemonum. Data source: specimens.
Illustrations. • fruit. • flower. • flowers and fruit. • plant.
Cite this publication as: ‘Bean, A.R. 2012 onwards. Solanum species of eastern and northern Australia. Version: 25th January 2023. delta-intkey.com’.
