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Solanum torvum

Sw. (1788)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Asterids Order: Solanales Family: Solanaceae Genus: Solanum

chundakkai, makhua phuang, pea aubergine, pea eggplant, turkeyberry

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Spreading or sprawling shrubs 2–3 m tall.

Stems: Prickles 3–7 mm long, slightly hooked, laterally flattened, scattered on stems, both leaf surfaces, main veins, sparse on aged and mature growth, all parts pubescent with stellate hairs, sparse on upper leaf surface, dense on lower surface, general aspect drab.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Alternate. Blades broadly ovate–elliptic, variable in size, 10–15 cm long, 8–10 cm wide. Apex acute to obtuse. Base somewhat sagittate to auriculate, equal or oblique. Surfaces pubescent with stellate hairs, sparse on upper surfaces, dense on lower surfaces. Margins with broad lobes, deeply cut in juvenile phases, shallow in mature leaves. Petioles 2–5 cm long. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers numerous (50–100) in congested, branched corymbs, at first terminal, soon lateral by sympodial growth; peduncle to first fork 1–2 cm long. Lower flowers bisexual (perfect), upper ones staminate, actinomorphic; pedicels 5–10 mm long. Calyx 3–4 mm long, the lobes apiculate, 2–3 mm long. Corolla white, stellate, 2.5 cm in diameter, the lobes lanceolate, ca. 10 mm long, apex acute. Stamens 5, inserted on corolla tube; filaments ca. 1 mm long; anthers yellow, attenuate, 6–7 mm long, opening by small apical pores. Ovary superior, globose, pubescent; style 1, erect, 8–10 mm long in perfect flowers, in staminate flowers.

Fruit: Berries few to 10 in clusters; drab yellow; brownish at maturity; mucilaginous; drying with age; globose; 11.5 cm in diameter; pedicels 1–1.5 cm long; thickened below calyx; calyx not much enlarged. Seeds numerous; drab brownish; flattened; discoid; 1.5–2 mm long; slightly reticulate. Self–compatible.

Ploidy: 2n = 24; 48

Habitat:

Elevation Range:

Historical Distribution

Images

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Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll) Naturalized
Kaua'i Naturalized
O'ahu Naturalized
Lana'i Potentially naturalizing
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents

Birds

Vegetative Reproduction

Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Prodr. Veg. Ind. Occ.: 47 (1788)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:1276 (O, WM); Oppenheimer et al. 1999:10 (EM); Starr et al. 2003:32 (H); Staples & Herbst 2005:36 (KEY), 539 (DESCR); Frohlich & Lau 2012:48 (K); Starr & Starr 2017:6 (Mi); Oppenheimer & Bogner 2019:23 (L)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
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