Family: Solanaceae
Solanum ellipticum
Citation:
R. Br., Prod. Fl. Nov. Holl. 446 (1810).
Synonymy: Not Applicable Common name: Velvet potato bush, potato bush.
Description:
A sprawling clonal perennial herb 15 cm to 1 m diam., woody at the base but stems not lasting more than a few years; all parts pubescent with pale dense stellate hairs, somewhat floccose on the stems and undersides of leaves, general aspect pale- or grey-green; leaves slightly discolorous, growing tips often tinged purple; prickles to 1 cm, unequal, fine, straight, pale or dark, scattered or abundant on stems, petioles and peduncles, sparse or absent on upper and lower leaf surfaces and calyx; leaves variable in size may be quite large on vigorous growths, 3-10 x 2-3 rarely to 5 cm, ovate to elliptic, entire or with an undulate repand margin, apex acute to acuminate; base cuneate to subcordate, oblique; petiole 1-5 cm long.
Inflorescence a cyme of 1-6 flowers from an extra-axillary position; peduncle 1-8 cm long; pedicels to 1 cm long; calyx tube 3-4 mm long; lobes triangular, acumens linear, together c. 1 cm; corolla 2-3 cm diam., rotate to rotate-pentagonal, purple; filaments short; anthers c. 4 mm long, oblong, stout; ovary glabrous; style c. 8 mm long, hooked; stigma slightly 2-lobed.
Fruiting peduncles 1-8 cm long; pedicels 1.5-2 cm long, slightly thickened upwards, usually deflexed; calyx covering the base of the fruit, lobes broadly triangular, acumens sometimes equalling the fruit; berry 1.5-2cm diam., globular or slightly obovoid, finally a pale yellowish-green, often with a tinge of purple, slightly translucent when ripe; seeds 2-2.5 mm long, pale.
| Flowering and fruiting branch and a fruit.
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Image source: fig. 574E in Jessop J.P. & Toelken H.R. (Ed.) 1986. Flora of South Australia (4th edn).
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Published illustration:
Cunningham et al. (1982) Plants of western New South Wales, p. 592.
Distribution:
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W.Aust.; N.T.; Qld; N.S.W.
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Conservation status:
native
Flowering time: most of the year with a peak in Aug. — Sept.
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SA Distribution Map based
on current data relating to
specimens held in the
State Herbarium of South Australia
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Biology:
No text
Taxonomic notes:
A widespread variable species and three principal forms may be recognised: (1) a prickly form associated with rock outcrops in central Australia; (2) a small-leaved more slender form from upper Eyre Peninsula and extending to the Nullarbor Plain; (3) the typical form moderately prickly, relatively large-leaved, widespread in drier Australia.
Author:
Not yet available
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