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Species
Solanum mauritianum Willd.
IUCN
NCBI
EOL Text
Solanum mauritianum is a native of Uruguay and southeastern Brazil, but now it is introduced into tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. It was possibly first introduced to Africa, Madagascar, Mauritius, and India by way of the Portuguese trade route, Manila-São Paulo-Capetown-Goa, beginning in the early 16th century. A species of disturbed forest openings, roadsides, or field borders, S. mauritianum is found from sea level to 2000 m. It may occur sporadically or in large thickets and has become a troublesome weed in some areas of Australia and South Africa. Its range is spreading, and it is targeted for chemical and biological control in some areas where it has become a noxious pest.
- Bohs, L.. Major clades in Solanum based on ndhF sequences. Pp. 27-49 in R. C. Keating, V. C. Hollowell, & T. B. Croat (eds.), A festschrift for William G. D’Arcy: the legacy of a taxonomist. Monographs in Systematic Botany from the Missouri Botanical Garden, Vol. 104. Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis.
- Roe, K.E.. A revision of Solanum sect. Brevantherum (Solanaceae) in North and Central America. Brittonia 19: 353-373.
- Roe, K.E.. Terminology of hairs in the genus Solanum. Taxon 20: 501-508.
- Roe, K.E.. A revision of Solanum section Brevantherum (Solanaceae). Brittonia 24: 239–278.
Solanum mauritianum is distinguished by its terete and lanate or velutinous stems; stem hairs partly to mostly long-stalked; axillary leaves often strongly developed; leaf apices long-attenuate; and hairs on lower leaf surfaces usually long-stalked in part.This species and S. granuloso-leprosum appear to intergrade in southeastern Brazil, judging from herbarium specimens. Some specimens of possible hybrid origin show high pollen stainability while others appear nearly sterile.A type specimen of S. mauritianum is unknown. The illustration, tab. 8 in Scopoli’s Deliciae Florae et Faunae Insubricae, is quite adequate in detail and may be accepted as type in lieu of a specimen (Roe, 1972).
Solanum mauritianum is a typical member of Solanum section Brevantherum (the Brevantherum clade of Bohs, 2005). Its phylogenetic position within the Brevantherum clade has not been investigated using molecular data.
S. America, widely cultivated and naturalised elsewhere.
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Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 3
Specimens with Barcodes: 17
Species With Barcodes: 1
United States
Rounded National Status Rank: NNA - Not Applicable
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| Rights holder/Author | NatureServe |
| Source | http://explorer.natureserve.org/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Solanum+mauritianum |
150 m
| License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | eFloras.org Copyright © Missouri Botanical Garden |
| Source | http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=110&taxon_id=242425634 |
Rounded Global Status Rank: GNR - Not Yet Ranked
| License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | NatureServe |
| Source | http://explorer.natureserve.org/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Solanum+mauritianum |
"Shrub or small trees, 2-4 m tall, branched above to form a rounded canopy, unarmed, all parts densely pubescent with sessile to long-stalked stellate hairs, loose and floccose on young growth. Leaves paler on lower surface, simple, alternate, elliptic, up to 30 x 12 cm on young vigorous growth, usually ca. 18 x. 6 cm on mature stems, margings entire, apex acuminate, base cuneate, often oblique, petioles 3-9 cm long, each with 1 or 2 smaller auriculate leaves in axils which are sessile, rounded, sometime absent. Flowers numerous in branched corymbs; peduncles up to 15 cm long; pedicels 2-3 mm long. Calyx tube short, 2-3 mm long, lobes narrowly triangular, 1-2mm long. Corolla lilac blue with a pale star-shaped area at base, stellate, 1.5-2.5 cm in diam. Stamens 5, inserted low on corolla tube; filaments ca. 1 mm long; anthers oblong, 2-3.5 mm long, opening by terminal pores. Ovary densely pubescent; lower part of style pubescent, 5-7 mm long; stigma green, terminal. Berries dull yellowish, succulent, globose, 1-1.5 cm in diam., pubescent at least in early stages; seeds numerous, flattened, 1.5-2 mm long, testa minutely reticulate."