Solanum dulcamara L.

Unarmed, scrambling or sprawling perennial, glabrous or with simple hairs; stems to 2.5–(4) m long, somewhat woody towards base; lenticels prominently raised. Petioles to c. 7 cm long. Lamina 4–12 × 2–8 cm, ovate or broadly ovate, entire or with 1–2–(4) basal lobes or leaflets, usually with simple hairs, these sometimes dense; base generally subcordate when lamina entire; apex acute to acuminate. Cymes simple and ± umbellate or in loose panicles; rachis 2–9–(13) cm long, ± hairy; pedicels < rachis, prominent and becoming recurved at fruiting, hairy or glabrous; fls usually 10–25. Calyx 2–3 mm long, divided nearly to base, accrescent; lobes broad-triangular and very shallow, usually covered with short ± appressed hairs, rarely glabrous. Corolla 10–15 mm diam., lobed nearly to base, usually purple, rarely nearly white; lobes narrow-triangular, becoming recurved, ± hairy, especially at margins. Anthers 4–5 mm long. Berry 0.8–1.5 cm diam., oblong-ovoid to almost globose, scarlet, shining; stone cells 0. Seeds 2–3 mm diam., orbicular or suborbicular.

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

Flowering: Nov.–Mar.