 Line drawing of S. innoxium by W.A.Smith from Austrobaileya 6: 679 (2004). Reproduced with permission. |
 Distribution map generated from Australia's Virtual Herbarium. |
Synonymy
Solanum innoxium A.R.Bean, Austrobaileya 6: 678 (2004).
T: Qld; Maranoa District; slopes of Thomby Ra., Glen Fosslyn, SE of Surat, 31 Aug. 2001, A.R.Bean 17775; holo: BRI; iso: MEL, NSW.
S. nemophilum auct.non F.Muell.: Symon, J. Adelaide Bot. Gard. 4: 144 (1981), p.p.
Description
Erect, rhizomatous perennial shrub, 0.3-0.6 m high. Leaves (in outline) lanceolate, entire; without prickles on upper surface. Adult stem prickles absent. Adult branchlets yellow or brown; prickles absent; stellae very dense, 0.25-0.4 mm diameter, sessile; lateral rays 7 or 8, porrect; central ray 3-4 times as long as laterals, not gland-tipped; finger hairs absent; Type 2 hairs absent.
Adult leaves lanceolate or ovate, entire; lamina 2.5-7 cm long, 0.8-2 cm wide, 2.6-4.2 times longer than broad, apex obtuse or acute, base obtuse or cordate, oblique part 0-2 mm long, obliqueness index 0-5 percent; petioles 0.4-0.8 cm long, 11-19% length of lamina, prickles absent. Upper leaf surface grey-green; prickles absent; stellate hairs distributed throughout; protostellae absent; ordinary stellae density moderate to dense, 0.1-0.15 mm apart, 0.2-0.3 mm across, sessile; lateral rays 7 or 8, porrect; central ray 3-6 times as long as laterals, not gland-tipped; finger hairs absent; Type 2 hairs absent. Lower leaf surface white or yellowish; prickles absent; stellae very dense, 0.05-0.1 mm apart, 0.25-0.4 mm diameter, stalks 0-0.1 mm long; lateral rays 7 or 8, porrect; central ray 3-5 times as long as laterals, not gland-tipped; finger hairs absent; Type 2 hairs absent.
Inflorescence supra-axillary, solitary or pseudo-umbellate, common peduncle absent; 1 or 2-flowered, with all flowers bisexual and 4 or 5-merous; pedicels 5-11 mm long at anthesis, same thickness throughout, 0.7-0.8 mm thick at mid-point, prickles absent. Calyx tube 1-1.5 mm long, lobes elliptic, 4-5.5 mm long; prickles absent at anthesis; stellae very dense, transparent, 0.25-0.4 mm across, sessile, lateral rays 7 or 8, central ray 2.5-5 times as long as laterals, not gland-tipped; finger hairs absent; Type 2 hairs absent. Corolla mauve or purple, 7-9 mm long, deeply lobed, inner surface glabrous; anthers 3-4.5 mm long; ovary with Type 2 hairs only, or with stellate and Type 2 hairs; functional style 4-5 mm long, erect, glabrous or with stellate and Type 2 hairs, stellae 0.2-0.25 mm across, lateral rays 7 or 8, central ray c. 1 times as long as laterals.
Fruiting calyx with lobes exceeding mature fruit, prickles absent. Mature fruits 1 per inflorescence, ellipsoidal, 3-4.5 mm diameter, red, with a few scattered Type 2 hairs, 1-locular (septum absent or incomplete); placenta not apparent; mesocarp juicy, succulent; exocarp 0.2-0.3 mm thick; pedicels 7-11 mm long in fruit, 0.7-0.8 mm thick at mid-point; seeds pale yellow, 2.2-2.3 mm long.
Description reproduced with permission from Bean, Austrobaileya 6: 678 (2006).
A detailed description of S. innoxium can also be found in the Bean treatment of the eastern Australian species of Solanum at http://delta-intkey.com/solanum/www/innoxium.htm
Distribution and ecology
Found only in
Habitat is variable, ranging from ridges dominated by Acacia shirleyi or A. catenulata, Eucalyptus populnea woodland or from brigalow (Acacia harpophylla). Soils range from loams to clays (Bean 2004).
Relationships
Treated as part of the S. densevestitum group of the subg. Leptostemonum (Bean 2004), together with S. gympiense, S. hapalum, S. densevestitum, S. johnsonianum, S. nemophilum and S. ultimum .
Notes
A line drawing of this species can be found in Austrabaileya 6: 679 (2004).
Derivation of epithet
From innoxius, Latin for harmless, a reference to the lack of prickles on this species.
Selected specimens
QLD: E of Combididan Farm, ‘
Plant status, if any
A category of “Vulnerable” has been recommended since the species is only known from a few locations and is not found in conserved areas (Bean 2004).
From the web
Further information and links for this species can be found on the Solanaceae Source site.