Solanum africanum

Solanum africanum is a species of plant in the nightshade family. It is found in South Africa.[1] This plant typically occurs near the coast up to an altitude of 200m.[2]

Solanum africanum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Solanales
Family: Solanaceae
Genus: Solanum
Species:
S. africanum
Binomial name
Solanum africanum

Description

Solanum africanum is a perennial, herbaceous shrub or climber growing up to 3 meters tall.[2] The flowers are white to purple with a yellow centre, borne in pendulous clusters at the branch tips. The leaves are simple in shape, green, ovate to elliptic or lanceolate with an acute apex, and the margin is often entire, but occasionally lobed. While growing flat on the ground without a support to keep it upright, the plant sends out branches in all directions, which may be seen. It's possible that this growth behavior is why the plant is occasionally called the drunken rope or berry.[3] The fruit is a round berry, black when ripe, 15mm in diameter.

Taxonomy

Solanum africanum is a member of the family Solanaceae. This family includes nightshade, tomato, potato and chillies.

Distribution and habitat

This species is frequently found near coastal dunes in the bush. It occurs from Cape Peninsula to KwaZulu-Natal. It flowers at any time of the year.

Conservation

The species has not been evaluated for the IUCN Red List.[4]

References
  1. "Plants of Southern Africa". Archived from the original on 2020-08-05. Retrieved 2018-04-23.
  2. "African Plants Database".
  3. "Solanum africanum | PlantZAfrica". pza.sanbi.org. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
  4. "IUCN Red List".


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