Solanum xanti

Solanum xanti, known commonly as chaparral nightshade,[1] purple nightshade, and San Diego nightshade, is a member of the genus Solanum. It is native to the Western United States in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Oregon, and to northwest Mexico in Baja California.[2]

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

The plant grows in chaparral, oak woodlands, conifer forests, desert Madrean Sky Islands, and other habitats.[3]

Description

Solanum xanti is a perennial herb or subshrub producing a branching hairy stem up to about 90 centimetres (35 in) in maximum height. The leaves are up to 7 centimeters long and are lance-shaped to oval, mostly unlobed except for occasional lobes at the bases of the blades.

It flowers from February to June in the wild, bearing an umbel-shaped inflorescence with many purple-blue flowers up to 3 centimeters wide. The fruit is a green berry 1 to 1.5 centimeters wide.[2]

Varieties

Varieties of the species include:

  • Solanum xanti var. glabrescens — (endemic to California) [4]
  • Solanum xanti var. hoffmannii — Hoffmann's nightshade (endemic to California) [5]
  • Solanum xanti var. intermedium — (endemic to California) [6]
  • Solanum xanti var. montanum [7]
  • Solanum xanti var. obispoense — San Luis Obispo nightshade (endemic to California) [8]
  • Solanum xanti var. xanti [9]

Cultivation

The plant is cultivated as an ornamental plant by specialty plant nurseries for planting in perennial border, drought-tolerant and native plant gardens. It grows from sunny locations to dry shade, such as under native oaks.[10][11][12]

The plant is deer resistant, due to its toxic qualities. In common with many other members in the Solanaceace family, all parts of the plant are toxic, especially the unripe fruit. Toxicity is from Solanine and glycol-alkaloids, chaconine, and solasodine. There is no antidote for Solanum poisoning. Symptoms include:

  • Cardiovascular system (tachycardia, arrhythmia, and hypotension)
  • Central nervous system (delirium, psychomotor, agitation, paralysis, coma, and convulsion)
  • Gastrointestinal track (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea)[13]
Selections

Cultivars and varieties available include:

  • Solanum xanti var. hoffmannii — Hoffmann's nightshade (long bloom period) [14]
  • Solanum xanti 'Mountain Pride' — Mountain Pride purple nightshade (large dark purple flowers) [15]

See also

References
  1. USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Solanum xanti". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
  2. Jepson . accessed 1.27.2013
  3. Calflora database: Solanum xanti . accessed 1.27.2013
  4. USDA Plants profile: Solanum xanti var. glabrescens
  5. USDA Plants profile: Solanum xanti var. glabrescens
  6. USDA Plants profile: Solanum xanti var. intermedium
  7. USDA Plants profile: Solanum xanti var. montanum
  8. USDA Plants profile: Solanum xanti var. obispoense
  9. USDA Plants profile: Solanum xanti var. xanti
  10. CNPLX—California Native Plant Link Exchange: Solanum xanti — Nursery and Seed Sources . accessed 1.27.2013
  11. Las Pilitas Nursery: Solanum xanti — horticulture . accessed 1.27.2013
  12. San Marcos Growers: Solanum xanti . accessed 1.27.2013
  13. "Eden by the Bay: Poison Gardens – Purple Nightshade". 23 October 2013.
  14. Las Pilitas Nursery: Solanum xanti hoffmannii
  15. San Marcos Growers: Solanum xanti 'Mountain Pride'

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