| Solanum acerifolium Dunal. | |
|---|---|
| |
| |
Scientific classification  (Accepted) | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Solanales |
| Family: | Solanaceae |
| Genus: | Solanum |
| Species: | S. acerifolium
|
| Binomial name | |
| Solanum acerifolium | |
Solanum acerifolium
editSolanum acerifolium (Dunal, 1816), is a species of small flowering shrub that belongs to the Solanaceae family, commonly known as the Nightshade family.[1] The species description was first published by a French botanist, Michel Félix Dunal in 1816.[2][3]
Plant Anatomy
editS. acerifolium is a herbaceous plant that stands upright and is typically found reading heights between 0.5 to 3 meters in height, usually growing for a single stem but occasionally multiple coming from the base.[4][5] Stems are pubescent with viscid-villous hairs and prickles that are straight and acicular.[5] Acicular prickles appear densely armed along all parts of the stem.[5] Prickles are usually 0.1 to 1.5 centimeters in length.[4][5] Upper flowering branches usually carry fewer prickles and appear more glabrous except for the viscid-villous hairs.[4][5]
Leaves
editLeaves on S. acerifolium are around 5 to 18 centimeters long and 4 to 15 centimeters wide.[4] Leaves can be single or in pairs.[4] Leaves are broadly ovate or elliptic in shape and are usually 4-lobed with an acute apex.[4][5] On both surfaces of the leaves are pubescent, and covered in viscid-villous hairs.[5] Both surfaces of the leaves carry prickles along the major veins, similar in size to those found along the stems.[4][5] The petioles of leaves measure 4 to 9 centimeters and have a pubescence similar to that of stems.[4]
Inflorescence
editInflorescence found on the S. aceriolium is extra-axillary and unbranched measuring 0.6 to 4 centimeters.[4] The inflorescence is characterized as a subumbellate raceme.[5] Typically holding 3 to 10 flowers that develop 1 to 8 fruit.[4] The peduncles are pubescent, similar to the stem with few prickles, less than 5 millimeters long, and sometimes absent.[5] Peduncles measure from 0.5 to 3.5 centimeters and rachis of the inflorescence measure up to 1 centimeter long.[4] The pedicles are 8 to 15 millimeters in length for the flower and 15 to 25 millimeters long for the fruit.[4] The distal portion of the pedicles becomes thicker growing towards the fruit.[4][5]
Flowers
edit
Flowers found on the S. acerifolium have a calyx and corolla part perianth.[4] The calyx is 2 to 4 millimeters long with deep triangular lobes.[4][5] The corolla can be found greenish-yellow or brownish-yellow in colour, and are stellate in shape, 1 to 2 centimeters in diameter.[4][5] The anthers of the flower are 5 millimeters long and taper to a point.[5]
Fruit
editThe fruits found on S. acerifolium are shiny and globose with a viscid exterior.[5] The fruit has a green and white marbled pattern and is 1 to 2 centimeters in diameter.[4]
Seeds
editA single fruit will hold around 60 seeds and are black, and flattened with winged margins.[4][5] Seeds are 3 to 4 millimeters in diameter.[5]
Habitat Distribution
editSolanum acerifolium is capable of populating many different habitats including forest clearings, pastures, roadsides, and ravines.[4] S. acerifolium has also been correlated with growing close to and inside coffee plantations.[4] It is possible that the commerce of coffee could be the reason for its success in distribution across countries in southern Mexico and South America.[4] S. acerifolium is typically found at altitudes of 1200 to 2000 meters.[4]
Geographic Distribution
editSolanum acerifolium can be found across two continents, spanning southern Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Trinidad, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru and eastern Brazil.[6]
Phenology
editThroughout its range, S. acerifolium will flower and fruit all year long. Although, flowing and fruiting may occur seasonally depending on latitude.[4]
References
edit- ^ "Solanum acerifolium Humb. & Bonpl. ex Dun. - Encyclopedia of Life". eol.org. Retrieved 2024-02-19.
- ^ "Solanum acerifolium | International Plant Names Index". www.ipni.org. Retrieved 2024-02-19.
- ^ Dunal, Michel Félix (1816). Solanorum generumque affinium synopsis: seu, Solanorum historieæ editionis secundæ summarium, ad characteres differentiales redactum, seriem naturalem, habitationes stationesque specierum breviter indicans (in Latin). apud Renaud.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w "Solanum acerifolium | Solanaceae Source". solanaceaesource.myspecies.info. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Missouri Botanical Garden.; Garden, Missouri Botanical; Botany, Henry Shaw School of (1973). Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden. Vol. v.60 (1973). St. Louis: Missouri Botanical Garden Press.
- ^ "Solanum acerifolium Humb. & Bonpl. ex Dunal | COL". www.catalogueoflife.org. Retrieved 2024-02-24.