Solanum oligacanthum is a species of herbaceous perennial herb or subshrub which is spread throughout central east Australia (South-West Queensland, North-West New South Wales, and North-East South Australia).[3] This species is often found in seasonally flooded creek channels, flats and lagoons, and commonly referred to as desert nightshade.[3][4]
| Solanum oligacanthum | |
|---|---|
| |
| Shrubs full extent | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Solanales |
| Family: | Solanaceae |
| Genus: | Solanum |
| Species: | S. oligacanthum
|
| Binomial name | |
| Solanum oligacanthum | |
| |
| Distribution within Australia based off data provided from Atlas of Living Australia[2] | |
Description
editSolanum oligacanthum is an erect, colonial, herbacious perennial species.[3] It grows up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) in heaight. This species is of pale grey-green colour, resulting from densely pubescent stellate hairs up to 16 mm (0.63 in) long.
Its leaves are broadly ovate,[5] 7–20 mm (0.28–0.79 in) wide and long, with the apex obtuse and rounded, and the base obtuse to cordate.
The corollas is purple and rotate (20–25 mm (0.79–0.98 in) diameter), containing the yellow[6] anthers arranged in the centre forming a cone-like structure.[7]
Its seeds are 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long, black or dark-brownish in colour.
Ecology
editSolanum oligacanthum grows in arid shrub lands within Australia.[8] New growth occurs in spring, and most top growth dies down over winter leaving dead stubble.
This species, like most Solanum, pollinates through a process known as buzz pollination.[6]
It is classified as a weed within some parts of South Australia.[5]
Distribution and conservation status
editDesert nightshade is distributed predominately within central eastern Australia, spread between South-West Queensland, North-West New South Wales, and North-East South Australia, with some being found on the Eastern Coast of South Australia as well.[3] There is no conservation status listed for Solanum oligacanthum[9] so it is assumed this species conservation is of low-concern.
Gallery
edit-
Close up of multiple flowers -
Close up of a single flower, and visible cone-like anther
References
edit- ^ "Solanum oligacanthum F.Muell". www.gbif.org. Retrieved 2024-06-21.
- ^ "Search: species: Solanum oligacanthum | Occurrence records | Atlas of Living Australia". biocache.ala.org.au. Retrieved 2024-06-17.
- ^ a b c d Alexander, George (1982). "Solanaceae" (PDF). Floral of Australia. 29.
- ^ "Species: Solanum oligacanthum (Desert Nightshade)".
- ^ a b Walsh, Nevlille (February 10, 2021). "Flora of Victoria". VicFlora.
- ^ a b Vallejo-Marín, Mario; Pereira Nunes, Carlos Eduardo; Russell, Avery Leigh (1 May 2022). "Anther cones increase pollen release in buzz-pollinated Solanum flowers". Evolution. 76 (5): 931–945. doi:10.1111/evo.14485. ISSN 0014-3820. PMC 9313847. PMID 35324004.
- ^ Faegri, Knut (January 1986). "The solanoid flower". Transactions of the Botanical Society of Edinburgh. 45 (sup1): 51–59. doi:10.1080/03746608608684993. ISSN 0374-6607.
- ^ "Conservation Management Zones of Australia: Arid Shrublands and Desert".
- ^ "Species Profile and Threats Database". Australian Government – Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water.