Solanum diphyllum

Shrubs, erect, unarmed, 1–2 m, glabrous or occasionally minutely puberulent, hairs white, unbranched, eglan­dular. Leaves petiolate; petiole 0.2–0.5 cm; blade simple, elliptic, 0.9–6.8 × 0.6–2.2 cm, margins entire, base acute to attenuate or decurrent. Inflo­rescences leaf-opposed, unbranched, 5–20-flowered, 0.3–1.2 cm. Pedicels ca. 0.5 cm in flower, ca. 1.2 cm and erect in fruit. Flowers radially symmetric; calyx somewhat accres­cent, unarmed, 1.5–2 mm, glabrous, lobes deltoid; corolla white, often tinged with lavender, stellate, 0.7–1 cm diam., without interpetalar tissue; stamens equal; anthers oblong, 1.5–2 mm, dehiscent by terminal pores that open into longitudinal slits; ovary glabrous. Berries yellow to orange, globose, 0.7–1.2 cm diam., glabrous, without sclerotic granules. Seeds pale yellow or tan, flattened, ca. 3 × 2.5 mm, minutely pitted. 2n = 24.

Phenology: Flowering year-round.
Habitat: Dry lowland areas, ham­mocks, disturbed sites.
Elevation: 0–300 m.

Distribution

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• Legacy Map

Introduced; Fla., Mexico, West Indies, Central America (Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua), South America (Brazil), introduced also in Europe (s France, Italy), Asia, Pacific Islands (Java, Philippines).

Discussion

Solanum diphyllum is often cultivated for its brightly colored fruits and can escape from cultivation in tropical and subtropical areas. It occurs sporadically and does not appear to be common, but in other areas where it has escaped it has become naturalized (Asia; S. Knapp 2002b).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.