Solanum americanum Mill.

Distribution

Biogeografic region: Amazonia, Andean, Caribbean, Orinoquia, Pacific. Elevation range: 0–2600 m a.s.l. Native to Colombia. Colombian departments: Amazonas, Antioquia, Atlántico, Bogotá DC, Bolívar, Boyacá, Casanare, Cauca, Cesar, Chocó, Cundinamarca, Huila, Magdalena, Meta, Nariño, Norte de Santander, Risaralda, San Andrés y Providencia, Santander, Tolima, Valle del Cauca.

Habit

Herb, Shrub, Subshrub.

Conservation

National Red List of Colombia (2021): Potential LC.

Ecology

Habitat according IUCN Habitats Classification: forest and woodland, savanna, shrubland, native grassland, wetlands (inland), artificial - terrestrial.

Flora Zambesiaca. Vol. 8, Part 4. Solanaceae. Gonçalves AE. 2005

Type

Type: specimen in Herb. Miller (BM, lectotype, fide Edmonds (1972), photo) of a plant cultivated in the Chelsea Physic Garden, London (England), said to have come from Virginia (United States, North America).

Morphology General

Erect or widely spreading annual to short-lived perennial, (10)20–76(150) cm tall, sometimes flushed purplish, glabrescent to moderately pubescent with simple, curved, usually appressed, eglandular hairs

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary c.  1 mm in diameter, ± globose, glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style 1. 3–4 mm long, straight or obscurely sigmoidal, the stigma level with the tip of the anthers or protruding by up to 1. 2 mm

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruits shiny, black or purplish-black, with shiny, opaque 4–7(8) mm in diameter, globose or slightly depressed-globose, with or without sclerotic granules, glabrous, edible when mature Fruits shiny, black or purplish-black, with shiny, opaque 4–7(8) mm in diameter, globose or slightly depressed-globose, with or without sclerotic granules, glabrous, edible when mature.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 24–70(100) per berry, with light bone-colour and often flushed with purple, 0.8–1. 5 mm long, ± ovate in outline, pitted all over Seeds 24–70(100) per berry, with light bone-colour and often flushed with purple, 0.8–1.5 mm long, ± ovate in outline, pitted all over.

Note

Chromosome number: 2n=24 Edmonds in J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 75: 143 (1977) recognized 2 varieties under S. americanum, viz.: var. americanum, pilose, and var. patulum (L.) Edmonds, more glabrous. Common name: “American Black Nightshade” or “Glossy Nightshade”.

Ecology

One of the most widespread species of Solanaceae, widely distributed from tropical to warm-temperate regions, and at higher altitudes when closer to the Equator, usually as a weed. Deep forest, riverine vegetation, dry thickets on littoral dunes and dry grassland, mountain slopes, waste and cultivated ground in gardens and fields; up to 1460 m.

Distribution

Zambia Malawi Mozambique ZAM N, ZAM W, ZAM N, ZAM W, ZAM E, MAL N, MOZ T, MOZ MS, MOZ GI, MOZ M

Morphology General Habit

Erect or widely spreading annual to short-lived perennial, (10)20–76(150) cm tall, sometimes flushed purplish, glabrescent to moderately pubescent with simple, curved, usually appressed, eglandular hairs.

Morphology Branches

Branches ± angular to narrowly winged, the ridges or wings smooth or with widely spaced, short teeth or prickle-like hairs. Branches ± angular to narrowly winged, the ridges or wings smooth or with widely spaced, short teeth or prickle-like hairs

Morphology Leaves

Leaves solitary or occasionally geminate; petiole 0.45–5 cm long, ± narrowly winged particularly distally; lamina 1.8–12 × 0.8–5.5 cm, elliptic to ovate-lanceolate or ovate, base truncate or rounded to cuneate, oblique, ± decurrent into the petiole, apex obtuse or acute, ± acuminate, entire to sinuate, rarely sinuate-dentate, ciliolate, both surfaces often sparsely pubescent, glabrescent. Leaves solitary or occasionally geminate; petiole 0.45–5 cm long, ± narrowly winged particularly distally; lamina 1. 8–12 × 0.8–5.5 cm, elliptic to ovate-lanceolate or ovate, base truncate or rounded to cuneate, oblique, ± decurrent into the petiole, apex obtuse or acute, ± acuminate, entire to sinuate, rarely sinuate-dentate, ciliolate, both surfaces often sparsely pubescent, glabrescent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Cymes lateral, unbranched, ± umbelliform, (1)3–6(10)-flowered; peduncle 0.2–2.8 cm long, slender, deflexed in bud, erect or ascending later, in fruit elongated to 3.7 cm; pedicels 2–7 mm long, slender, in fruit elongated to 14 mm, usually erect and splayed, occasionally reflexed. Cymes lateral, unbranched, ± umbelliform, (1)3–6(10)-flowered; peduncle 0.2–2.8 cm long, slender, deflexed in bud, erect or ascending later, in fruit elongated to 3.7 cm; pedicels 2–7 mm long, slender, in fruit elongated to 14 mm, usually erect and splayed, occasionally reflexed

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 1–2(2.5) mm long, campanulate, in fruit somewhat enlarged; lobes 0.2–1.2 × 0.2–1 mm, oblong, semi-elliptic or ovate to lanceolate, rounded to acute, sparsely pubescent to glabrous, in fruit elongated to 1.5 × 2 mm, often strongly reflexed. Calyx 1–2(2.5) mm long, campanulate, in fruit somewhat enlarged; lobes 0.2–1. 2 × 0.2–1 mm, oblong, semi-elliptic or ovate to lanceolate, rounded to acute, sparsely pubescent to glabrous, in fruit elongated to 1. 5 × 2 mm, often strongly reflexed

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla white, cream or yellowish, with or without a conspicuous yellow-green eye, sometimes flushed with purple, mauve or blue, 1.6–4(5) mm across, rotate to deeply stelliform; lobes 1.5–3.5 × 0.5–1.7 mm, oblong or ovate to lanceolate, obtuse or acute, puberulous outside. Corolla white, cream or yellowish, with or without a conspicuous yellow-green eye, sometimes flushed with purple, mauve or blue, 1. 6–4(5) mm across, rotate to deeply stelliform; lobes 1. 5–3.5 × 0.5–1. 7 mm, oblong or ovate to lanceolate, obtuse or acute, puberulous outside

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamen filaments 0.3–1.5 mm long; anthers 0.7–1.5(2) mm long, oblong. Stamen filaments 0.3–1. 5 mm long; anthers 0.7–1. 5(2) mm long, oblong

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary c. 1 mm in diameter, ± globose, glabrous; style 1.3–4 mm long, straight or obscurely sigmoidal, the stigma level with the tip of the anthers or protruding by up to 1.2 mm.

Cytology

Chromosome number: 2n=24.

The Useful Plants of Boyacá project

Ecology

Alt. 0 - 2600 m.

Morphology General Habit

Herb.

Conservation

Least concern.

Distribution

Native from Colombia.

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit

Short-lived herb, procumbent to erect, 0.3–1.5 m high, glabrescent to moderately pilose with appressed eglandular hairs

Morphology Leaves

Leaves alternate to subopposite; petiole 0.8–3 cm long; blade ovate-lanceolate to lanceolate, decurrent on petiole, (2–)3–6.2(–12.5) x 1.1–4(–6.6) cm, glabrescent to densely pilose, base cuneate, margins entire to sinuate or occasionally with deep obtuse lobes, apex acute to acuminate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences simple, umbel-like, 3–6(–10)-flowered, often extra-axillary; peduncles 0.5–1.1 cm long, extending to 1.5–2.8 cm in fruit; pedicels up to 14 mm long in fruit, usually erect, but often reflexed and nodding in Flora area

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 1.1–1.8(–2.4) mm long; sepals broadly ovate, 0.4–1 mm x 0.6–1 mm at base, enlarging to 0.8–1.5 x 1–2.5 mm in fruit, usually reflexed, but sometimes appressed to fruit in Flora area

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla white, occasionally with purple tinge, with translucent to yellow-green basal star; petals 2–4 mm long, spreading

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers

Anthers yellow, 0.7–1.5(–2) mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style 1.2–3.5(–4.5) mm long, exserted up to 2.5 mm beyond anthers

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruits black, rarely dark green, falling from calyces when ripe, 4–7(–8) mm in diam. Seeds 0.8–1.3(–1.5) mm long.

Distribution

N1; S1, 2; widespread in Africa, in the Mediterranean region, SW Europe, warmer parts of Asia, Australia, New Zealand, South (where probably indigenous), Central and warmer parts of North America.

Ecology

Altitude range 50–1600 m.

Solanaceae, Jennifer M Edmonds. Oliganthes, Melongena & Monodolichopus, Maria S. Vorontsova & Sandra Knapp. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2012

Type

Type: cultivated Chelsea Physic Garden, introduced from Virginia, Miller s.n. (BM!, holo)

Morphology General

Annual herb, 0.3–1.5 m high, occasionally suffrutescent at base, erect, procumbent or scrambling, spreading up to 2 m; stems green to densely purple, angular or smooth with edentate or slightly dentate ridges, all parts pilose with appressed eglandular hairs, often glabrescent

Morphology Leaves

Leaves often membranaceous, light to dark green, sometimes densely purple, lanceolate, ovate-lanceolate or ovate, (1.9–)3–8(–15) × 1.1–4.8(–10.8) cm, sometimes smaller on short-shoots, bases cuneate and decurrent, margins entire, sinuate or sinuate-dentate with deep usually obtuse lobes, apices acute to acuminate; surfaces pilose to glabrescent; petioles 0.3–4(–6) cm. Inflorescences simple condensed umbellate cymes, rachides absent or < 2 mm, usually extra-axillary, 3–7(–10)-flowered; peduncles erect and 0.4–2(–3.5) cm long in flower, 1.2–2.8 cm long in fruit; pedicels erect to reflexed and 3–9 mm long in flower, typically erect and splayed and 7–14 mm in fruit but often reflexed and nodding in the Flora area; axes pilose

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx campanulate, 1.1–2(–2.5) mm long, pilose externally; lobes broadly ovate, 0.5–1.1 × 0.5–1 mm, acute to obtuse, often unequal; enlarging to 0.7–1(–1.5) × 1–1.5 mm in fruit when usually reflexed away from berry bases

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla white, sometimes with purple tinge and occasionally purple median veins to the lobes, with translucent to yellowish-green basal star, deeply stellate, 6–10(–12) mm diameter, tube 0.5–1(–1.3) mm long; lobes spreading to reflexed, ovate with acute apices, 2.5–4(–5) × 1.5–2.5 mm, shortly pilose externally with papillate margins

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Filaments

Filaments free for 0.5–1.4 mm, villous internally; anthers yellow, 0.8–1.5(–2) × 0.5–0.7 mm, connivent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary brownish, 0.5–1 × 0.5–0.9 mm; style 2–3(–4.2) mm long, lower half shortly pilose, exserted up to 1 mm before anthesis after which absent, straight or geniculate; stigma capitate, 0.2–0.3 mm diameter

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Berries typically borne erect but fruiting pedicels sometimes reflexed in the Floral area, black to purplish-black (occasionally dark green outside Africa) with shiny opaque cuticle, globose, rarely broadly ovoid, 4–7(–9) mm diameter, surrounded basally by reflexed calyx lobes; deciduous from calyces

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds (3–)15–80(–101) per berry, yellow, light or dark brown, obovoid, discoidal to orbicular, 0.8–1.4 (1.8) × 0.8–1.3 mm, reticulate; sclerotic granules present (when up to 4 per berry) or absent

Figures

Fig 17/12–14, p 126

Ecology

Common weed of cultivation (maize and cassava plots, banana plantations, gardens), old cultivation areas, waste land and disturbed places, grassland, open bush and forest clearings, shrubland, stony cleared land, and upland rain forest; sea-level to 3200 m

Note

Several duplicates of the type collection of S. imerinense have been traced and although the specimens have sinuate-dentate leaf margins and some reflexed fruiting pedicels, the remaining inflor- and infruct-escence characters are identical to those found in S. americanum. Although a type specimen of S. sancti-thomae has not yet been seen, the plant habit and tiny flowers described in the protologue suggest conspecificity with S. americanum. This is probably the most widespread and morphologically variable species in the section Solanum and is diploid (2n=2x=24). A more complete list of synonyms of this cosmopolitan species is given in Edmonds (1972) and Mansfeld (2001). The species is typically characterised by umbellate cymes of very small flowers, which are succeeded by small globose berries typically on erect, spreading or splayed pedicels. In Africa the fruiting pedicels are often reflexed and indeed Henderson (1974) recognised a similar variant as the subsp. nutans in Australia. However, extensive growth of many duplicates of S. americanum collected from throughout world indicated that many of the features characterising the species can be extremely variable including fruiting pedicels which can often be reflexed in field-grown plants, but erect in glasshouse- grown ones. Moreover, in some plants, the lower pedicel of the inflorescence can arise up to 2 mm below the condensed umbel. Other characters showing great variation include plant habit; pigmentation; leaf size, shape, and margin shape; flower colour and size; berry shape, colour and sclerotic granule presence or absence (cf. Jardine & Edmonds in New Phytol., 73: 1259 (1974) & Edmonds in J.L.S., 76: 27 (1978)). A number of infraspecific variants of this species have been formally described. Edmonds (1971, 1977) recognised two ecogeographical varieties of this species in South America with var. americanum being pilose and var. patulum (L.) Edmonds being glabrescent. This distinction is not so apparent elsewhere in the world including Africa, where both types occur and are best identified as S. americanum sensu lato . Though sclerotic granules are generally absent from the berries of South American plants of this species, they are often found in the African representatives. Olet (2004) recognised two morphological forms of S. americanum in Uganda, which she proposed could be given infraspecific recognition, though her molecular work suggested that there might be three groups, one of which could have been composed of hybrid plants. The synonymy of S. nodiflorum with S. americanum was based on examination on the type material of both species (Edmonds, 1971). Using material of this taxon from throughout the world, Manoko (2007) & Manoko et al. (2007) concluded from their molecular and crossability results that these two species were distinct. However, it is thought that the material which they identified as S. americanum, derived from the USA, is the distinct species S. ptycanthum Dunal. The clustering behaviour of all their other accessions, with the exception of a few from Brazil, confirmed their conspecificity, and in my view support their identification as S. americanum sensu stricto. There are reports of the use of this species as a vegetable in Uganda (U 1), Kenya (K 3) and Tanzania (T 2, 3 & 6) including its sale in local markets. It is also frequently used as a vegetable in Madagascar and for its fruits, though there are reports of the toxic alkaloids in the raw fruits causing nausea, diarrhoea, constipation, apathy, circulatory or respiratory problems (cf. D’Arcy & Rakotozafy, 1994). There are a number of specimens in SW Ethiopia and East Africa which appear florally intermediate between this taxon and the next species S. tarderemotum, which usually has slightly larger flowers and lax cymose many-flowered inflorescences in which the fruiting pedicels are reflexed. A new species S. umalilaense Manoko (Manoko et al. in Manoko, Syst. Study of African Solanum L. Sect. Solanum (Solanaceae), Chap. 4: 69–73 of Doctoral Thesis presented to Radboud University, Njimegen (2007) was recently described for tetraploid plants possibly endemic to the Umalila Forest Reserve region of the southern highlands of Tanzania. This was previously identified as affin. S. americanum, with which it is superficially similar. However, among the characters by which Manoko differentiated it are terminal inflorescences, shortly accrescent fruiting calyces, and small yellowish translucent berries which remain attached to the plants at maturity; its distinction from other African section Solanum species was supported by his AFLP analyses. It is species A in Schippers (2004), and the type material cited was Gereau et al. 5084 (DSM, holo.; K!, MO, NHT, iso.). This taxon is a popular vegetable which is extensively grown by the Umalila people. It is thickly sown in large plots, and the leaves harvested three to four weeks after planting until flowering commences when they become too bitter. It is widely sold in local markets. Morphologically the plants are somewhat intermediate between the diploid S. americanum and tetraploid S. tarderemotum. It could be an autopolyploid form of the former, but recent (2010) field work suggests that it is a good species which is widespread in cultivation, though no wild populations were found (van der Weerden, pers. comm.). Further experimental work on these collections is currently underway before the new species is formally published. It is probable that S. triangulare is synonymous with S. americanum. The protologue is brief but the possible holotype has a similar inflorescence structure with erect pedicels and bears tiny flowers with the corolla being described as pale violet and the anthers ± 1mm long. The specimen later cited by Dunal (1852) for this species – Gaudichaud s.n. (G-DC) is not conspecific and seems to belong to S. villosum subsp. miniatum. It is generally accepted that Schultes’ S. dillenii, though based on Dillenius’ Solanum procerius patulum vulgaris fructu was described from a mixture of specimens – representing some quite different species (see Thellung in Botan. Exch. Club Reports, 8: 186 (1926–1928); Polgár in Botan. Közlemenyek 23: 3 (1926) & in Acta Hort. Got. 13: 281 (1939)). To clarify the confusion surrounding this species, Polgár later described the Swedish adventive which he thought identical to the Dillenian plant as S. dillenianum (see above). The protologue and morphology of the holotype of S. depilatum clearly demonstrates its conspecificity with S. americanum, though sclerotic granules are absent from the berries in this case.

Distribution

Range: Generally considered to be an adventive in much of the Old World Flora districts: U1 U2 U4 K1 K3 K4 K ?6, K7 T2 T3 T6 T7 Z Range: Madagascar, W Indian Ocean Islands, Europe, the Mediterranean, Asia, Malesia, N, C and S America, the West Indies, New Zealand, New Guinea and Australia. Controversy surrounds its place of origin Range: Cape Verde, Senegal, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, Cameroon, São Tóme, Bioko, CongoKinshasa, Burundi, Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Angola, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, South Africa

Bernal, R., G. Galeano, A. Rodríguez, H. Sarmiento y M. Gutiérrez. 2017. Nombres Comunes de las Plantas de Colombia. http://www.biovirtual.unal.edu.co/nombrescomunes/

Vernacular

charrul, chumbalo, hierbamora, hierbamora blanca, tomaticos, yerbamora

Vernacular

Yerba mora, Yerbamora