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Solanum sandwicense

Hook. & Arn. (1832)

This name is accepted

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

pōpolo [popolo], pōpolo‘aiakeakua [popoloaiakeakua]

Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Large sprawling shrubs up to 4(–5) m tall, trunk up to 15 cm in diameter, all parts but particularly young parts densely pubescent with yellowish brown stellate hairs, unarmed.

Stems:

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Alternate, sometimes geminate. Blades ovate in outline, often 10–15 cm long, 5–14 cm wide. Apex acuminate, lobe apex rounded to acuminate. Base rounded, oblique. Surfaces pubescent with yellowish brown stellate hairs; dense on lower surfaces, sparser on upper surfaces with age. Margins entire or with a few shallow lobes or with up to 4 distinct lobes on each margin, each with 1–2 teeth. Petioles 2–4 cm long. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers few to 40 in simple or 1–2–forked subpaniculate cymes from an extra-axillary or leaf–opposed position. Peduncle to first flower or fork 2–4 cm long. Flowers bisexual (perfect), actinomorphic; pedicels ca. 15 mm long, bent at end so flower faces down. Calyx ca. 4 mm long including the lobes, these acuminate, ca. 2 mm long. Corolla white with faint purplish midline stripe, 2– 2.5 cmin diameter, the lobes divided ¾ their length, elliptic, somewhat reflexed at anthesis, densely pubescent externally with stipitate stellate hairs, sparsely pubescent within, apex acute. Stamens inserted low on corolla tube; filaments white, erect, ca. 2 mm long, glabrous; anthers yellow, stout, incurved, 2–2.5 mm long, opening by minute transverse apical pores, their apices meeting at summit of style. Ovary superior, bluntly conical, white stellate pubescent; style erect, ca. 2 mm long, stellate pubescent in lower part; stigma pale green, capitate.

Fruit: Berries few to several per cyme; black at maturity; succulent; globose to ellipsoid; 1.3–1.5 cm in diameter. Self–incompatible.

Ploidy: 2n = 24*

Habitat: Rare in diverse mesic forests.

Elevation Range: 760–1,220 m.

Historical Distribution

Uses and Culture

USES

Ethnobotanical Images

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Natural History

Statewide Status

Endemic

Island Status

Kaua'i Endemic
O'ahu Endemic
Lana'i Endemic

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Bot. Beechey Voy.: 92 (1832)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:1275 (K, O); Matt Keir pers. comm. 2025 (EXTINCT); Matt Keir pers. comm. 2025 (K†, 2023); PEPP 2025/Wood 1213 PTBG (O†, 1991)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Neal, M.C. Kauai BISH 1930-08-22
2 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Skottsberg, C.J.F. 973 Kauai BISH 1922-10-27
3 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Corn, C. Kauai BISH 1982-08-29
4 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Meebold, A. Oahu BISH 1932-06-01
5 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Hobdy, R.W. Kauai BISH 1969-01-01
6 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Rainforest at head of Kumuweia Ridge. Preserved_Specimen Small tree 4-6 m tall. Flowers 5 white petals. Fruit subglobular, green. Bryan Jr., E.H. 1441 Kauai BISH 1940-07-25
7 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen 5-7 ft. Lydgate, J.M. Kauai BISH
8 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 1627 Kauai BISH 1909-02-14
9 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 1081 Kauai BISH 1917-07-03
10 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 1657 Kauai BISH 1909-02-14
11 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 17099 Kauai BISH 1916-10-01
12 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Heller, A.A. 2638 Kauai BISH 1895-07-29
13 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 974 Kauai BISH 1917-07-03
14 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Topping, D.L. 2855 Oahu BISH 1924-09-14
15 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 12 Lanai BISH 1913-06-01
16 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 1081 Kauai BISH 1917-07-03
17 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 1370 Oahu BISH 1909-05-08
18 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 9014 Kauai BISH 1911-10-01
19 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 1370 Oahu BISH 1909-05-08
20 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 1627 Kauai BISH 1909-02-14
21 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 5829 Kauai BISH 1909-09-01
22 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 1115 Oahu BISH 1909-02-12
23 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 312 Kauai BISH 1909-09-01
24 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 1081 Kauai BISH 1917-07-03
25 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 1687 Oahu BISH 1911-02-04
26 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 974 Kauai BISH 1917-07-03
27 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 9014 Kauai BISH 1911-10-01
28 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 1081 Kauai BISH 1917-07-03
29 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Mann, H. 720 Oahu BISH 1864-01-01
30 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 8829 Oahu BISH 1911-08-01
31 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Laidlaw, J. 1118 Kauai BISH 1953-09-02
32 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 8829 Oahu BISH 1911-08-01
33 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Laidlaw, J. 1118 Kauai BISH 1953-09-02
34 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Skottsberg, C.J.F. 323 Oahu BISH 1922-08-25
35 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Russ, G.W. Oahu BISH 1929-10-01
36 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Russ, G.W. Oahu BISH 1929-10-01
37 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Christophersen, E. Kauai BISH 1925-03-01
38 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Corn, C. Kauai BISH 1982-08-29
39 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. Kauai BISH 1916-10-01
40 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Montgomery, S.L. Oahu BISH 1970-02-15
41 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Christophersen, E. Kauai BISH 1925-03-01
42 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 5613 Kauai BISH 1909-09-01
43 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Faurie, A. 869 Kauai BISH 1910-03-01
44 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Wichman, J.R. 1141 Kauai BISH 1953-09-04
45 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Smith, F.G. Kauai BISH 1929-05-01
46 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Lydgate, J.M. Kauai BISH
47 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Swezey, O.H. Kauai BISH 1932-06-15
48 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Lydgate, J.M. Kauai BISH
49 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Hillebrand, W.B. Oahu BISH
50 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 974 Kauai BISH 1917-07-03
51 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Mixed mesophytic forest. Full sun with Rubus. Preserved_Specimen Sprawling shrub of 6 ft high by 20 ft wide on edge of ridge. Corolla white, anthers bright yellow. Flynn, T.W. 2233 Kauai BISH 1987-07-01
52 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details In 5 ft. high Dicranopteris and full sun w/ scattered trees and boardering forest. Native Wet Montane Metrosideros-Dicranopteris Forest. W/ Nestegis, Cryptocarya, Pouteria, Coprosma, and Perrottetia Preserved_Specimen Shrub 10 ft. tall in Dicranopteris. Flws pendent, peduncles fuzzy brown tomentose. Leaf margins irregular, top dk green w/short red-brn tomentose, below light ran w/ thick tomentose. Fruit green round, mature purple Tangalin, N. 1726 Kauai BISH 2008-04-16
53 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Metrosideros-Dicranopteris-Acacia Montane Mesic Forest with Pleomele, Coprosma waimeae, Scaevola procera, Dianella, Melicope barbigera, Xylosma hawaiiense, Psychotria greenwelliae. Threats: pigs, deer, Kalanchoe pinnata, Rubus rosifolius, Hedychium gardnerianum. Preserved_Specimen 4 trees above Joinvillea population; in flower and fruit; 2 m. tall, diffusely branched trees on banks above gulch; 70 degree aspect. Wood, K.R. 5336 Kauai BISH 1996-06-27
54 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Originally collected by Bill Garnett and Steve Perlman from the Dept. of Hawaiian Home Lands side of the Honouliuli Preserve. This plant came from Pahole. Preserved_Specimen Orr, D. Oahu BISH 2011-04-22
55 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details In Acacia koa-Metrosideros lowland mesic forest with Urera, Streblus, Pteralyxia, Cyanea, Bidens, Dubautia, Viola, Claoxylon, Dianella, Passiflora, Pittosporum, Psychotria, Scaevola. Preserved_Specimen 1 plant with flowers and fruit. Perlman, S. 6160 Oahu BISH 1987-07-12
56 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Stream bed. Preserved_Specimen Bush, 2.5 m tall. Sakimura, K. Oahu BISH 1947-05-30
57 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Metrosideros-Acacia-Dicranopteris montane mesic forest. Threats: Rubus rosifolius, Lonicera, Passiflora mollissima. Preserved_Specimen Two trees; trunk grey-brown multi-trunked, 15 cm diam., 2.5 m. tall; leaves along banch medium-green; fruit soft, dark-green; peduncle dark-green; calyx brown. Wood, K.R. 4973 Kauai BISH 1996-02-21
58 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Wet forest. Preserved_Specimen Fls. white, fr. brownish-green, shrub 6-8 ft tall. St.John, H. 13698 Kauai BISH 1933-12-27
59 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Undergrowth in open forest. Preserved_Specimen Shrub. Ht. 2 1/2 m. MacDaniels, L.H. 763 Kauai BISH 1927-02-17
60 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details On talus slopes. N facing slope with Urera, Phyllostegia, Streblus, Schinus, Planchonella, Pelea, Pipturus, Claoxylon, and Antidesma. Preserved_Specimen 1 plant only sprawling. 5 ft tall with fruit and flower. Perlman, S. 5677 Oahu BISH 1987-04-21
61 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Metrosideros-Acacia-Alphitonia montane mesic forest w/ Euphorbia atrococca, Myrsine lanaiensis, Dodonaea viscosa, Psychotria mariniana, Wikstroemia furcata, Diospyros sandwicensis, Kadua affinis, Coprosma waimeae, C. foliosa, Polyscias kavaiensis, Anti Preserved_Specimen Trees, ca. 6, each numbered for conservation, new population, very healthy, with mostly immature fruit, a few mature. Wood, K.R. 16665 Kauai BISH 2015-11-27
62 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Growing on edge of open woods, with Pilea spp., Psychotria, Blackberry, Straussia spp., etc. Preserved_Specimen An erect shrub 4 to 8 feet tall. Pearsall, G.A. 438 Kauai BISH 1959-07-09
63 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details In open woods, with native plants & blackberries. Preserved_Specimen Spreading shrub, 4-8 ft tall. Pearsall, G.A. 437 Kauai BISH 1959-07-01
64 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details On talus slopes. N facing slope with Urera, Phyllostegia, Streblus, Schinus, Planchonella, Pelea, Pipturus, Claoxylon, and Antidesma. Preserved_Specimen 1 plant only sprawling. 5 ft tall with fruit and flower. Perlman, S. 5677 Oahu BISH 1987-04-21
65 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Dry forest. Preserved_Specimen Semi-decumbent shrub, in open patches. Stone, B.C. 854 Kauai BISH 1955-06-19
66 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details On edge of open woods, with native shrubs and blackberries. Preserved_Specimen An erect shrub 4 to 8 feet tall. Pearsall, G.A. 438 Kauai BISH 1959-07-09
67 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details mesic forest; Acacia koa, Metrosideros, Antidesma, Tetraplasandra kauaiensis, Ilex, Pouteria, Corynocarpus, Coprosma waimeae, Xylosma hawaiiense, Hedyotis terminalis, Claoxylon, Lantana, Rubus argutus Preserved_Specimen 3 m; large patch; flowering Perlman, S. 18974 Kauai BISH 2004-05-20
68 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Wooded ridge Preserved_Specimen Small tree Hume, E.P. 387 Oahu BISH 1931-12-01
69 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Moist Metrosideros woods. Preserved_Specimen Young shrub 1 m tall. St.John, H. 22897 Kauai BISH 1947-12-21
70 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Growing in rain forest. Preserved_Specimen Shrub 3 m tall. Lamoureux, C.H. 1525 Kauai BISH 1960-08-26
71 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details In wet forest. Preserved_Specimen Shrub, about 15 ft, tall with white flowers. Herbst, D.R. 2448 Kauai BISH 1972-05-28
72 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Dry forest. Preserved_Specimen Semi-decumbent shrub, in open patches. Stone, B.C. 854 Kauai BISH 1955-06-19
73 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Growing under open 15m plus Acacia canopy, the shrub layer open; forest floor covered with ferns. Preserved_Specimen 6-7' solitary shrub. Takeuchi, W.N. 16 Kauai BISH 1983-08-15
74 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Tree aobut 20 ft tall. Alexander, A.M. 5264 Kauai BISH 1947-03-14
75 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Wet valley Preserved_Specimen Anderson, D. Oahu BISH 1931-10-25
76 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Gulch. Metrosideros-Acacia mesic forest with Santalum pyrularium, Leptecophylla tameamea, Coprosma waimeae, Dodonaea viscosa, Wikstroemia furcata, Melicope ovata, M. barbigera, Cyanea leptostegia, Claoxylon sandwicense, Planchonella sandwic Preserved_Specimen Trees, 5-6 in close proximity, one dead, vegetative, known population Wood, K.R. 15230 Kauai BISH 2012-09-19
77 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Moist woods. Preserved_Specimen Shrub 20 ft high x 2 in at base. St.John, H. 13744 Kauai BISH 1933-12-27
78 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Woods. Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 10702 Kauai BISH 1930-12-26
79 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Disturbed mixed mesophytic forest of Metrosideros & Acacia koa invaded by Rubus & Passiflora. Preserved_Specimen Large spreading shrub 3.5 m tall x 7 m across. Corolla white pale purple at base, anther yellow. Lorence, D.H. 5277 Kauai BISH 1987-07-01
80 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Large shrub 6 ft tall in shade of taller trees. Three individuals in flowers, no fruit. Williams, J. Kauai BISH 1985-06-13
81 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Dry forest. Preserved_Specimen Semi-decumbent shrub, in open patches. Stone, B.C. 854 Kauai BISH 1955-06-19
82 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Acacia-Metrosideros montane mesic forest; associated plants: Lobelia, Chamaesyce, Hedyotis, Melicope, Lysimachia, Zanthoxylum. Preserved_Specimen 3 m tall tree; in fruit and early bud; 3 sm dia. at base; trunk grey; 2 plants in area. Wood, K.R. 667 Kauai BISH 1991-03-26
83 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Shrub with rambling branches, fruits black. Rock, J.F.C. 8829 Oahu BISH 1911-08-01
84 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Flower white with faint trace of purple towards the tube. Large shrub 4-(?) 1/2 ft high, rather common (illegible). Forbes, C.N. 788 Kauai BISH 1917-07-03
85 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen 6 ft shrub much branched, leaves ovate acute, white pubescent below, fl white. Mann, H. 202 Oahu BISH 1864-01-01
86 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Herb-shrub; fruit black, flowers Christophersen, E. 1280 Oahu BISH 1930-03-16
87 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Fl. white, mostly 5-parted; stamens mot connivent; berries greenish black, shrub forming thicket. St.John, H. 10421 Oahu BISH 1930-03-16
88 Solanum sandwicense Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Hobdy, R.W. 117 Kauai BISH 1969-06-17
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