Common names: Cockroach berry soda- or Sodom-apple
WeedyIntroduced
Synonyms: Solanum ciliatum Lamarck
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 14.
Revision as of 21:35, 6 October 2024 by imported>Volume Importer
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Shrubs, erect, sparsely to densely armed, 0.3–1(–2) m, prickles yellowish, straight or slightly reflexed, to 15 mm, gla­brate to moderately pubes­­cent, hairs spreading, unbranched, eglan­dular. Leaves petiolate; petiole 2–10(–13) cm; blade simple, broadly ovate, 4–15 × 4–15 cm, margins shallowly to deeply lobed with 2–3 lobes per side, lobe margins entire to coarsely lobed, base cordate. Inflorescences extra-axillary, ± sessile, unbranched, 1–7-flowered. Pedicels ca. 1 cm in flower, 1.5–2 cm in fruit. Flowers radially symmetric; calyx somewhat accrescent, sometimes prickly, 4–6 mm, pubescent with minute glands and longer, simple, eglandular hairs, lobes triangular; corolla white, stellate, 1.5–2 cm diam., without interpetalar tissue; stamens equal; anthers narrow and tapered, 5–6.5 mm, dehiscent by terminal pores; ovary glabrous. Berries dull orange to red, globose, 2–4 cm diam., glabrous, without sclerotic granules. Seeds yellow, flattened, winged at maturity, 4–6 × 4–6 mm, minutely pitted. 2n = 24.


Phenology: Flowering Apr–Oct (year-round in Fla.).
Habitat: Disturbed areas, sandy soils.
Elevation: 0–1000 m.

Distribution

Introduced; Fla., La., Miss., N.C., S.C., Tex., South America (Brazil), introduced also in West Indies, Central America, elsewhere in South America, Asia, Africa, Pacific Islands, Australia.

Discussion

Solanum capsicoides is presumed native to coastal Brazil and is grown as an ornamental for its showy red fruits. It has spread from cultivation and become naturalized in tropical and subtropical climates. In the flora region, it is found particularly in Florida. The name S. aculeatissimum Jacquin has been misapplied to S. capsicoides (for example, J. K. Small 1913; A. E. Radford et al. 1968; D. S. Correll and M. C. Johnston 1970; R. W. Long and O. Lakela 1971).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Solanum capsicoides"
Lynn Bohs1 +  and 1The author wishes to acknowledge co-authorship with David M. Spooner† on S. jamesii and S. stoloniferum and with Sandra Knapp and Tiina Särkinen on the black nightshade species. +
Allioni +
Cockroach berry +  and soda- or Sodom-apple +
Fla. +, La. +, Miss. +, N.C. +, S.C. +, Tex. +, South America (Brazil) +, introduced also in West Indies +, Central America +, elsewhere in South America +, Asia +, Africa +, Pacific Islands +  and Australia. +
0–1000 m. +
Disturbed areas, sandy soils. +
Flowering Apr–Oct (year-round in Fla.). +
Auct. Syn. Meth. Stirp. Hort. Regii Taurin., +
Weedy +  and Introduced +
Solanum ciliatum +
Solanum capsicoides +
species +