Solanum symonii

Solanum symonii is an erect or spreading, softly-wooded shrub that typically grows to a height of 0.7–2 m (2 ft 4 in – 6 ft 7 in) and is more or less glabrous apart from a few hairs on its growing points. The leaves are egg-shaped to lance-shaped, 100–180 mm (3.9–7.1 in) long and 30–80 mm (1.2–3.1 in) wide on a petiole 20–30 mm (0.79–1.18 in) long. The leaves lack prickles and are shallowly lobed. The flowers are borne in groups of two to six on a peduncle up to 30 mm (1.2 in) long, the rachis 50 mm (2.0 in) long, each flower on a pedicel 10–20 mm (0.39–0.79 in) long. The sepals are broadly triangular, 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long, the sepal lobes about 2 mm (0.079 in) long, the petals pale lavender-purple and 30–40 mm (1.2–1.6 in) long with notched lobes. Flowering occurs throughout the year with a peak from July to October, and the fruit is an oval to egg-shaped berry 15–20 mm (0.59–0.79 in) long.[2][3][4][5]

This species was first formally described in 1859 by Ferdinand von Mueller who gave it the name Solanum fasciculatum in Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae from specimens collected near the Phillips River.[6][7] Mueller's name was illegitimate because it had already been used for a different species (Solanum fasciculatum Vell., now known as Athenaea fasciculata).[8] In 1963, Hansjörg Eichler changed the name to Solanum symonii in the journalTaxon.[9] The specific epithet (symonii) honours David Eric Symon.[10]

Solanum symonii grows in sandy soil on coastal limestone and sand dunes from Geraldton in north-western Western Australia to the Yorke Peninsula in South Australia.[2][5]