Solanum glaucophyllum
Solanum glaucophyllum
Solanum glaucophyllum is a species of the genus Solanum (Solanum ) in the nightshade family (Solanaceae ).
Description
Solanum glaucophyllum is about 0.5 to 4 m tall shrub or small tree that forms a rhizome. The stem is glabrous or rarely moderately to densely covered with fine hair, usually brightly colored and smooth. The sympodial units usually have four true leaves. The leaf blades are 6-18 cm long and 0.6 to 3.5 (rarely to 5) cm wide. The ratio of length to width is between 4.5:1 to 10:1, rarely 15:1. They are simply shaped, narrow elliptic, pointed forward, tapered at the base or petiole decurrent. They are succulent or fleshy, the blade axis and the edge are often thickened and whitish. Both sides are glabrous or rarely moderately to densely covered with fine hair. The petioles are up to 1.5 cm long or shorter, glabrous, often slightly winged.
The inflorescences are branched, sometimes even highly branched and usually contain 20 to 50 flowers, or even more. The peduncle is 1 to 3.5 cm long, the inflorescence axis 2-7 cm. The approximately 1 to 15 mm -spaced flower stalks are at flowering time 12 to 15 mm long, in the fruits of 15 to 20 mm. At the base they are articulated. The calyx is hairless except for a sparse pubescence on the edge, it measures 2 to 3 mm in diameter and 0.5 to 1.5 mm long and 1.5 to 2.5 mm wide, triangular and pointed calyx lobes occupied. The crown is membranous, white to pink or purple, and has in the center a white star on often. It is circular, star-shaped and folded and measures 10 to 30 mm in diameter. The corolla tube is 5-8 mm long, the Corolla lobe measuring 4 to 10 mm and are at the base of 5 to 10 mm wide. Their shape is broadly triangular, pointed forward. The outside of the crown is moderately to densely covered with fine hair, especially the outer parts of the Corolla lobe and the Verwachsungsstellen of the petals. The inside is hairless except for a few hairs at the tip of Corolla lobe. The anthers are usually bent inward, yellow to yellow- orange and egg-shaped. The outside is smooth to roughened but not conspicuous papillose. The pores have outwardly. The ovary and the style are glabrous. The stylus is cylindrical, 5 to 7 mm in length, 0.25 to 0.5 mm in diameter and carrying a cut shaped scar.
The fruits are 0.75 to 2 inches long and as wide. They are spherical and tapered in the youth at the top often, however, blunted at maturity. The surface is glabrous, dark purple or blue-black and frosted at maturity. Stone cells are not present. The seeds are about 4 to 6 cm long and 3.5 to 4 cm wide. They are angled, smooth or provided with fine toothed ribs.
Occurrences and locations
The species is found in Bolivia, southern Brazil, Paraguay, northern Argentina and Uruguay. It grows in low, swampy soils at the edge of ponds in seasonally flooded areas. The sites are located at an altitude 0-600 m.
System
Within the nightshade (Solanum ) the species is classified in the section Cyphomandropsis.
Documents
- Lynn Bohs: Revision of Solanum section Cyphomandropsis (Solanaceae ). Systematic Botany Monographs, Volume 61, The American Society of Plant Taxonomists, August 2001. ISBN 0-912861-61-4