Home | > | List of families | > | Solanaceae | > | Solanum | > | aculeatissimum |
Synonyms: |
Solanum aculeatissimum Jacq. var. hispidissimum Dunal |
Common names: | |
Frequency: | |
Status: | |
Description: |
Shrubby perennial, up to c. 1.5 m tall. All parts abundantly armed with spines, straw-coloured to yellowish or purplish when young. Leaves broadly ovate to almost round in outline, up to 16 × 19 cm, coarsely toothed to deeply lobed, thinly but conspicuously covered in simple hairs, generally with numerous spines, particularly on the veins. Flowers in few-flowered lateral clusters. Corolla star-shaped, whitish. Fruit 2-3 cm in diameter, spherical, striped or marbled green and creamy-white, turning dirty yellow when ripe. |
Notes: | |
Derivation of specific name: | aculeatissimum: extremely prickly |
Habitat: | |
Altitude range: | |
Flowering time: | |
Worldwide distribution: | Probably native to Southern Africa but now widespread throughout Tropical Africa. Also introduced in Paraguay, Brazil and Mexico. |
Malawi distribution: | |
Growth form(s): | Shrub under 2 m. |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | |
Insects associated with this species: | |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Literature: |
Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 272. Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 866. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 52. Gonçalves, A.E. (2005). Solanaceae Flora Zambesiaca 8(4) Pages 118 - 119. Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 79. Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 106. |
Home | > | List of families | > | Solanaceae | > | Solanum | > | aculeatissimum |