Group characteristics
Erect or sprawling shrubs, with entire or lobed adult leaves. Stem prickles and branchlet prickles straight, not widened at base. Stellate hairs present in all parts. Inflorescences not branched. Flowers all bisexual, all of similar size and prickliness, 5-merous, mauve or purple. Calyx with prickles. Corolla lobes glabrous or pubescent on inner face. Stamens with anthers all of similar size. Ovary without stellate hairs. Mature fruits green, yellowish green or yellow, mesocarp moist not juicy, 10-20 mm diameter; calyx lobes less than or more than mature fruit.
Distribution
5 species endemic in Australia.
Australian members of group
Members of the S. lasiophyllum group of Solanum subg. Leptostemonum (Bean 2004).
S. ashbyae
S. gabrielae
S. gilesii
S. lachnophyllum
S. lasiophyllum
See Bean, A.R. (2004). The taxonomy and ecology of Solanum subg. Leptostemonum (Dunal)Bitter (Solanaceae) in Queensland and far north-eastern New South Wales, Australia. Austrobaileya 6: 639-816.