Synonymy
Solanum oligandrum Symon, Nuytsia 13: 538 (2001).
T: WA, Great Sandy Desert, Mandoora Marsh area, 16 Oct 1999, D.Dureau, T.Handasyde & T.Willing WEC2-19; holo:
S. pugiunculiferum auct.non C.T.White: Symon, Nuytsia 13: 538 (2001), early identifications.
Description
The original description of this species can be found in Nuytsia 13: 538 (2001).
Distribution and ecology
Occurs in the Great Sandy Desert area of WA in the Mandoora Marshes area and also on Anna Plains Stn.
Found in interdune depressions, usually over calcrete and in seasonally inundated areas.
Relationships
Considered by Bean (2004) to be a member of the S. hystrix group of subgen. Leptostemonum.
In the original treatment of S. oligandrum, Symon (2001) indicated that its closest relationships are with S. pugiunculiferum, sharing the lack of pubescence (apart from the outer corolla surface), the very noticeable, straw-coloured prickles and the dry green fruits.
It differs from S. pugiunculiferum in a number of characters, amongst them its more deeply and narrowly lobed leaves, the presence of male flowers above the single bisexual flower, a dense covering of stellate hairs on the outer surface of the corolla and the longer calyx.
Bean (2004) considered that the two species were not "particularly closely related" and treated S. pugiunculiferum in its own monotypic group.
Selected specimens
W.A.: Northern margin Great Sandy Desert, May 1984, T. Fatchen 900, 980 (AD).
Plant status, if any
S. oligandrum is classified as Priority 3 - Poorly Known in the latest list (Atkins 2008).
Atkins, K.J. (2008). Declared Rare and Priority Flora List for
From the web
Further information can be found on the FloraBase site.
There is presently no information on the Solanaceae Source site for this species.