SOLANACEAE

NIGHTSHADE FAMILY

Michael Nee

Annual to shrub
Leaves generally simple, generally alternate, generally petioled; stipules 0; blade entire to deeply lobed
Inflorescence various
Flower bisexual; calyx lobes generally 5; corolla ± radial, cylindric to rotate, lobes generally 5; stamens 5, alternate corolla lobes; ovary superior, generally 2-chambered, style 1
Fruit: berry or capsule, 2–5-chambered
Genera in family: 75 genera, 3000 species: worldwide, especially ± tropical; many alien weeds in CA; many cultivated for food, drugs, or ornamental (potato, tomato, peppers, tobacco, petunia); many TOXIC.

SOLANUM

NIGHTSHADE

Annual to shrub or vine, often glandular, sometimes prickly
Leaves alternate to subopposite, often unequal, entire to deeply pinnately lobed
Inflorescence: panicle or umbel-like, often 1-sided
Flower: calyx ± bell-shaped; corolla ± rotate, white to purple; anthers free, > filaments, oblong or tapered, opening by 2 pores or short slits near tip; ovary 2-chambered, style 1, stigma head-like
Fruit: berry, generally spheric (or dry, capsule-like)
Seeds many, compressed, generally reniform
Species in genus: ± 1500 species: worldwide, especially tropical Am
Etymology: (Latin: quieting, from narcotic properties)
Reference: [Symon 1981 J Adelaide Bot Gard 4:1–367]
Many cultivated for food (including potato, S. tuberosum ), ornamental; many TOXIC.

Native

S. wallacei (A. Gray) Parish

WALLACE'S NIGHTSHADE

Perennial to subshrub < 10 dm, much-branched, generally densely soft-hairy, often glandular
Leaf generally 6–10 cm, ovate to oblong, entire to ± wavy; base rounded to subcordate
Inflorescence: branches generally 2
Flower: calyx 4.5–6 mm; corolla 30–40 mm wide; anthers 4.5–5.5 mm
Fruit 15–25 mm diam
Seed 1.5–2 mm
Ecology: UNCOMMON. Canyons, chaparral
Elevation: < 800 m.
Bioregional distribution: Channel Islands
Distribution outside California: Guadalupe Island, Mexico
Synonyms: var. clokeyi (Munz) McMinn (S. clokeyi Munz), island nightshade
Horticultural information: DRN: 5, 17 &SHD: 7, 14, 15, 16, 24 &IRR: 8, 9, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23.