 Porter Bay. Photo: D.E. Symon 3162 © D.E. Symon |
 Plate by G.Dashorst from D.E. Symon, Kangaroo Apples (1994) pl. 5, published by the author. |
 Distribution map generated from Australia's Virtual Herbarium. |
Synonymy
Solanum symonii H. Eichler, Taxon 12: 296 (1963).
S. fasciculatum F. Muell., Fragm. Phytogr. Austral. 1: 123 (1859) nom. illeg.; non S. fasciculatum Vell., Fl. Flumin 1: 85 (1825); S. simile var. fasciculatum Domin, Biblioth. Bot. 89: 575 (1929), and as S. simile var. fastigiatum Domin, Feddes Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 12: 130 (1913) (orthographic error).
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Description
Erect shrub to 2 m, green, glabrous except for minute simple and glandular hairs on growing points, calyx and corolla apices, and occasional stout conical hairs on lower mid-veins of younger leaves. Prickles absent.
Lobed leaves ovate-lanceolate; lamina 10-18 cm long, 3-8 cm wide, concolorous, shallowly lobed; petiole 2-3 cm long. Entire leaves lanceolate to elliptic, the lamina 3-12 cm long, 5-16 mm wide, concolorous; petiole 10-15 cm long.
Inflorescence 2-6-flowered; peduncle absent or up to 3 cm long; rachis to 5 cm long; pedicels 1-2 cm long. Calyx 4-5 mm long; lobes broadly triangular, 1.5-3 mm long. Corolla rotate, 30-40 mm diam., pale lavender-purple; lobes notched. Anthers 2-3 mm long.
Berry ellipsoid to obovoid, 1-1.5 cm diam., green or tinged purple. Seeds 2 mm diam., greyish or reddish-brown. Stone-cell granules to 2 mm diam. n=46
Distribution and ecology
An Australian endemic, S. symonii is one of the Kangaroo Apples or subg. Archaeosolanum. It occurs in coastal regions from Geraldton, W.A., to tip of
Often on stabilised dunes, in sandy soil over limestone, or in gypseous soil.
Common name
Kangaroo apple
Relationships
One of the Kangaroo Apples or subg. Archaeosolanum. Further information about this group of species can be found in Symon (1994).
Closely related to S. vescum F. Muell. and to S. simile F. Muell. with which it is often confused.
Reference: Symon, D.E. (1994). Kangaroo apples: Solanum sect. Archaesolanum. Published by the author:
Derivation of epithet
Named for David E. Symon, author of the first major revision of Solanum for
Selected specimens
W.A.: 2 km E of Eucla, M.D. Crisp 955 (PERTH). S.A.: Head of Great Australian Bight, B. Copley 2729 (AD); 19 km E of Ceduna, D.E. Symon 4485 (ADW, BIRM, CANB, K, NSW, PERTH)
From the web
Further information for S. symonii in WA can be found on the FloraBase site and for SA on the eFlora site.
Further information and links for this species can be found on the Solanaceae Source site.