Biology:Solanum opacum

From HandWiki
Short description: Species of plant in the family Solanaceae

Solanum opacum
Solanum opacum by Peter de Lange.jpg
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Solanales
Family: Solanaceae
Genus: Solanum
Species:
S. opacum
Binomial name
Solanum opacum
A.Braun & C.D.Bouché
Synonyms[1]

Solanum allanii Polgar
Solanum apopsilomenum Bitter
Solanum brachypetalum Bitter
Solanum fauriei H.Lév.
Solanum forsteri Seem.
Solanum insulae-paschalis Bitter
Solanum microtatanthum Bitter
Solanum nigrum var. pitcairnense F.Br.

Solanum opacum is a species of flowering plant in the family Solanaceae.[1] It is referred to by the common names green berry nightshade, or morelle verte and is a sprawling annual native to eastern Australia . It is part of the black nightshade group of Solanum species.

Description

A sprawling annual herb, minutely hairy, and with no prickles. The leaves are ovate to lanceolate, 3–6 cm long and 1–2 cm wide, usually with shallowly lobed margins. Both leaf surfaces are green and sparsely hairy. The petiole is 1–4 cm long. Inflorescences 2–5-flowered with a white stellate corolla 8–12 mm diameter. The berry is 8–10 mm diam., and green when mature.[2]

Plant chemistry

An unidentified alkaloidal aglycone (0.4%) has been detected in the fruits of S.opacum, but none in the leaves or stems.[3]

Food

Uncommonly cultivated as a "rare" fruit. The ripe berries are eaten when yellowish green, and the flavor is described as spicy-sweet.[4]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Solanum opacum A.Braun & C.D.Bouché". The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. n.d.. https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:820333-1. 
  2. Solanum opacum A.Braun & Bouché, New South Wales Flora Online
  3. Everist,S.L., (1981) Poisonous Plants of Australia, Angus & Robertson Publishers, p669, ISBN:0-207-14228-9
  4. Seed Catalog, Solana Seeds

Wikidata ☰ Q7555756 entry