Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Solanales Juss. ex Bercht. & J.Presl
Family
Solanaceae
Genus
Solanum L.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Solanum chenopodioides Lam. (1791)
Synonymy:
  • = Solanum sublobatum Roem. & Schult. (1819)
  • = Solanum gracile Dunal (1852) nom. illeg.
  • = Solanum gracilius Herter (1943)
  • = Solanum ottonis H.Hyl. (1945)
Vernacular Name(s):
Velvety nightshade
 Description

Greyish, velvety-tomentose, unarmed perennial herb or subshrub to  c. 1.5 m tall;  mature stems with 2 ridges.  Petioles to 3 cm long.  Lamina (1.5)–2.5–11 × (0.5)–1–6 cm, ovate or lanceolate-ovate, tomentose above and below, entire or nearly so;  base attenuate;  apex acute to acuminate.  Cymes umbellate;  peduncles very variable in length;  pedicels becoming strongly deflexed at fruiting.  Calyx 2–3 mm long;  lobes very small, somewhat accrescent, lanceolate to oblong or elliptic.  Corolla 8–13 mm diam., white; lobes lanceolate or narrowly triangular, densely hairy outside, soon reflexing. Anthers 1.5–3 mm long.  Berry 5–7 mm diam., globose, dull purplish black or purple;  stone cells 0.  Seeds 1–1.5 mm long, suborbicular.  

[From:  Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

 Biostatus
Exotic
 Phenology

Flowering: Jan.–Dec.

 Bibliography