TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993) previous taxon | next taxon
Jepson Interchange (more information)
©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California
For up-to-date information about California vascular plants, visit the Jepson eFlora.

    THIS PAGE IS NO LONGER UPDATED
    AND IS MAINTAINED FOR ARCHIVAL PURPOSES ONLY
  • Up-to-date information about California vascular plants is available from the Jepson eFlora.

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.

Introduced

S. sarrachoides Sendtner

Annual 1–9 dm, decumbent, sticky; hairs spreading, some glandular
Leaf 2–6 cm, ovate, entire to irregularly toothed or shallowly lobed
Inflorescence generally raceme-like, few-flowered
Flower: calyx 2–2.5 mm, in fruit 4–6 mm, enclosing fruit base; corolla 3–5 mm wide, white, lobes > tube; anthers 1.5–2 mm
Fruit 6–7 mm diam, yellowish
Seed ± 2 mm, yellow
Chromosomes: n=12
Ecology: Disturbed areas
Elevation: generally < 1000 m.
Bioregional distribution: North Coast, Klamath Ranges, Cascade Range Foothills, Great Central Valley, w Central Western California, South Coast, n Channel Islands (Santa Cruz Island), East of Sierra Nevada
Distribution outside California: to Canada, e US, Mexico; native to S.America
Flowering time: May–Oct

previous taxon | next taxon
bioregional map for SOLANUM%20sarrachoides being generated
 


Retrieve Jepson Interchange Index to Plant Names entry for Solanum sarrachoides
Retrieve dichotomous key for Solanum
Return to treatment index page
Glossary
University & Jepson Herbaria Home Page | Copyright © by the Regents of the University of California