Solanum anguivi Lam.

First published in Tabl. Encycl. 2: 23 (1794)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Tropical & S. Africa, Comoros, Madagascar. It is a subshrub or shrub and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome.

Descriptions

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/101519334/101519423

Conservation
LC - least concern
[IUCN]

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation
Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident
[AERP]

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

Type
Type: Mauritius [Île de France], garden of Monsieur Cossigny, 1769, Commerson s.n. (MPU, lecto., designated by Hepper 1978: 290; P-JU, P, isolecto.)
Morphology General
Shrub, 0.7–2 m, erect, armed or unarmed; young stems stellate-pubescent; trichomes porrect, orange-translucent, sessile or shortly stalked, stalks to 0.1 mm, rays 6–8, 0.1–0.25 mm, midpoints same length as rays or to 2 mm; prickles up to 5(–10) × 1–4 mm at base, straight to curved, rounded to flattened
Morphology Leaves
Leaf blades drying discolorous, green-brown, ovate to elliptic, (5–)11–25 × 5–17 cm, 1.5–2.5 times longer than wide, base cuneate to rounded, usually unequal or oblique, margin usually lobed, sometimes subentire, the lobes up to 5 on each side, broadly deltate, to 2(–3) cm long and rounded to acute, extending up to 1/3(–1/2) of the distance to the midvein, apex acute(acuminate); sparsely to densely stellate-pubescent on both sides with trichomes on abaxial surface porrect, sessile or shortly stalked, stalks to 0.1 mm, rays 6–8, 0.1–0.3 mm, midpoints same length as rays or up to 1.5 mm long, adaxially with reduced rays and elongated midpoints; primary veins 4–7 pairs; petiole 1–5 cm, 1/4–1/6 of the leaf length
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescences 2.5–6 cm long, not branched or branched once, with 5–22 flowers, peduncle 2–20 mm long; rachis 0.6–5 cm long; peduncle and rachis unarmed; pedicels 0.5–1.2 cm long in flower, in fruit 0.8–1.3 cm long, usually unarmed
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers perfect, 5-merous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx 3–5 mm long, the lobes deltate to somewhat ovate, 1–2 mm long, acute, unarmed or with 1–4 prickles
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla white to mauve, 0.8–1.5 cm in diameter, lobed for ± 2/3 of its length, the lobes deltate, 3–6 × 2–3 mm
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens equal; anthers 3.5–5 mm
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary with a few stellate trichomes towards the apex; style 6–8 mm long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Berries 6–22 per infructescence, evenly green when young, red at maturity, spherical, 6–9 mm in diameter; fruiting calyx unarmed
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds 1.8–2.5 × 1.8–2.3 mm
Figures
Fig 20, p 168
Ecology
Forest and forest edges, wooded grassland, grassland, bushland, disturbed areas, old cultivation, and roadsides; (40–)1000–2200(–3100) m
Note
Solanum anguivi is the second most common and variable species of spiny Solanum in Africa (after S. campylacanthum), and encompasses a great deal of morphological and genetic variation. Numerous instances of single morphologically anomalous specimens from different parts of Africa fall within S. anguivi sensu lato and it is possible these will be recognised as independent taxa following further research. Cultivated forms of S. anguivi are widespread and placed here in S. aethiopicum. Solanum anguivi is maintained as a distinct wild to semicultivated species due to its largely distinct morphology, lack of wild intermediates, and a probable selective pressure against new hybrids between S. aethiopicum and S. anguivi. For the last 150 years the name “Solanum indicum L.” has been applied to both the African S. anguivi and the Asian S. violaceum Ortega, as well as other superficially similar prickly taxa. Due to historic confusion and widespread misapplication the epithet “indicum” was rejected; extensive evidence has demonstrated that S. anguivi is not directly related to the Asian S. violaceum. Synonyms listed here are only those in common use or based on African types. Complete synonymy for S. anguivi can be found on the Solanaceae Source website (http://www.solanaceaesource.org).
Distribution
Range: Madagascar Range: Senegal, Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Central African Republic, Congo-Kinshasa, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Angola, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, South Af Flora districts: U1 U2 U3 U4 K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7 T8
[FTEA]

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

Type
Type from Madagascar, Monsieur Cassigny garden, 1769, Commerson s.n. (MPU, holotype; P), probably raised from material cultivated in Mauritius Is.
Morphology General
Erect to spreading, woody herb, shrub or very rarely a small tree to 4(5) m, usually armed; hairs stellate, sessile or shortly stalked, with short to long rays, the central ray sometimes longer; prickles yellowish to brownish or occasionally dark purple basally, few to many, straight or somewhat recurved, up to 13 mm long and 5 mm wide at the base, ± hairy to glabrous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla white tinged pink, purple to blue outside, sometimes so only proximally, 8–18(20) mm across, ± stelliform; lobes 3.5–9 × 1. 5–4 mm, ovate-lanceolate to linear, acute, densely hairy or hairy only on median region and apex outside and less so to subglabrous inside Corolla white tinged pink, purple to blue outside, sometimes so only proximally, 8–18(20) mm across, ± stelliform; lobes 3.5–9 × 1.5–4 mm, ovate-lanceolate to linear, acute, densely hairy or hairy only on median region and apex outside and less so to subglabrous inside.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamen filaments 0–1. 5 mm long; anthers 3–6 mm long, linear-oblong or lanceolate in outline, cordate basally, ± straight Stamen filaments 0–1.5 mm long; anthers 3–6 mm long, linear-oblong or lanceolate in outline, cordate basally, ± straight.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary c.  1 mm in diameter, ± globose, glabrous or with a few hairs near the top.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style
Style 6–8 mm long, straight or slightly curved at the apex, usually hairy on lower three quarters
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit at first green, later yellow to red, glossy, turning brown or blackish with age, 6–12(13) mm in diameter, globose, occasionally with a few hairs near the top, 2–3-locular, fleshy and edible when mature, easily detached Fruit at first green, later yellow to red, glossy, turning brown or blackish with age, 6–12(13) mm in diameter, globose, occasionally with a few hairs near the top, 2–3-locular, fleshy and edible when mature, easily detached.
Ecology
Markedly tolerant of open and shady sites in and at edges of both dry and wet forests, montane grassland and bushland, riverine associations, savanna woodland, thickets and coastal bushland, generally absent from miombo woodland except on termite mounds, rock outcrops and cultivated areas, formerly used as a food plant and frequently associated with habitations, in waste places, occasionally a weed; up to 2380 m.
Note
Some of the variation may be the result of the influence of man imposing selection pressures in the course of domesticating the plants now known as S. aethiopicum, see p. 69. Much of the superficial variation, in such features as armature, indumentum, leaf size and leaf lobes, is associated with its wide ecological tolerance.
Distribution
Widespread in tropical Africa; outside the Flora Zambesiaca area recorded from West and East Africa extending northwards to Ethiopia and southwards to South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal), and also from Angola and Dem. Rep. Congo, occurring also in Aldabra, Comor ZAM N, ZAM W, ZAM E, ZIM C, ZIM E, ZIM S, MAL N, MAL C, MAL S, MOZ N, MOZ Z, MOZ T, MOZ MS Zimbabwe Zambia Malawi Mozambique
Morphology General Habit
Erect to spreading, woody herb, shrub or very rarely a small tree to 4(5) m, usually armed; hairs stellate, sessile or shortly stalked, with short to long rays, the central ray sometimes longer; prickles yellowish to brownish or occasionally dark purple basally, few to many, straight or somewhat recurved, up to 13 mm long and 5 mm wide at the base, ± hairy to glabrous.
Morphology Branches
Branches occasionally purplish tinged, tomentose, tardily glabrescent, usually with scattered prickles. Branches occasionally purplish tinged, tomentose, tardily glabrescent, usually with scattered prickles
Morphology Leaves
Leaves solitary or appearing geminate; petiole (0.5)1–4.5(6.5) cm long; lamina ± membranous, 3–19(22) × (1.5)2–12(18) cm, ovate or rhombic-ovate to elliptic or lanceolate, very rarely suborbicular, base truncate or rounded to attenuate, sometimes ± cordate, and often ± unequal-sided, occasionally decurrent into the petiole, apex obtuse to acute or acuminate, subentire to lobed, the lobes ± triangular or ovate-triangular, obtuse to acute, the sinuses rounded between the lobes, tomentose at first, becoming more thinly hairy above, sometimes with the central ray of the hairs longer than the others, ± persistently densely hairy beneath, forms from shady sites much less hairy, forms in exposed places quite felty, both surfaces with a few ± straight prickles mostly on the midrib and secondary nerves, rarely unarmed. Leaves solitary or appearing geminate; petiole (0.5)1–4.5(6.5) cm long; lamina ± membranous, 3–19(22) × (1. 5)2–12(18) cm, ovate or rhombic-ovate to elliptic or lanceolate, very rarely suborbicular, base truncate or rounded to attenuate, sometimes ± cordate, and often ± unequal-sided, occasionally decurrent into the petiole, apex obtuse to acute or acuminate, subentire to lobed, the lobes ± triangular or ovate-triangular, obtuse to acute, the sinuses rounded between the lobes, tomentose at first, becoming more thinly hairy above, sometimes with the central ray of the hairs longer than the others, ± persistently densely hairy beneath, forms from shady sites much less hairy, forms in exposed places quite felty, both surfaces with a few ± straight prickles mostly on the midrib and secondary nerves, rarely unarmed
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Cymes mostly lateral, leaf-remote, unbranched or occasionally once forked, generally racemiform, (2)4–20(25)-flowered, usually all flowers hermaphrodite and fertile, widely and ± equally spaced often on a well developed rhachis, occasionally the flowers sub-umbelliform or solitary, tomentose to minutely hairy, sometimes with purplish hairs; peduncle up to 3 cm long, prickly to quite unarmed; pedicels 3–9 mm long, slender, thickened and occasionally prickly distally, erect or ± curved, in fruit elongated to 15 mm, stouter, erect to deflexed. Cymes mostly lateral, leaf-remote, unbranched or occasionally once forked, generally racemiform, (2)4–20(25)-flowered, usually all flowers hermaphrodite and fertile, widely and ± equally spaced often on a well developed rhachis, occasionally the flowers sub-umbelliform or solitary, tomentose to minutely hairy, sometimes with purplish hairs; peduncle up to 3 cm long, prickly to quite unarmed; pedicels 3–9 mm long, slender, thickened and occasionally prickly distally, erect or ± curved, in fruit elongated to 15 mm, stouter, erect to deflexed
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers (4)5-merous. Flowers (4)5-merous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx purple, violaceous or maroon, tomentose to moderately hairy, unarmed or occasionally prickly; tube 1–3 mm long, shortly campanulate or cupular; lobes ± unequal, 0.5–2.5 × 0.5–1.7 mm, shortly triangular to oblong-cuspidate or linear, obtuse or acute to long-acuminate, sparingly hairy inside. Calyx purple, violaceous or maroon, tomentose to moderately hairy, unarmed or occasionally prickly; tube 1–3 mm long, shortly campanulate or cupular; lobes ± unequal, 0.5–2.5 × 0.5–1. 7 mm, shortly triangular to oblong-cuspidate or linear, obtuse or acute to long-acuminate, sparingly hairy inside
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
Ovary c. 1 mm in diameter, ± globose, glabrous or with a few hairs near the top; style 6–8 mm long, straight or slightly curved at the apex, usually hairy on lower three quarters.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds whitish to yellowish, more rarely orange to light purple, 2–3 × 1.5–2.8 mm, lenticular-reniform or oblong to discoid, verruculous-rugose to minutely pitted all over. Seeds whitish to yellowish, more rarely orange to light purple, 2–3 × 1. 5–2.8 mm, lenticular-reniform or oblong to discoid, verruculous-rugose to minutely pitted all over
[FZ]

Seed Collecting Guide. RBG Kew (2013-2016)

Morphology General Habit
erect woody herb or shrub, up to c. 4 m tall
Morphology Stem
stems and armed with straight or somewhat curved spines, yellowish to brownish, sometimes purple near the base, up to 13 mm long, branches often purple tinged
Morphology General Hair
all parts covered in stellate hairs
Ray
the central ray of the stellate hairs often much longer than the lateral rays
Morphology Leaves
leaf margin subentire to triangularly lobed rhombic-ovate, elliptic or lanceolate, thinly stellate hairy above, densely so below
Morphology General Prickles
prickles usually present on the midrib and main veins
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
racemose heads, up to 20-flowered
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
corolla pale mauve or purple, star-shaped
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
fruits 6-12 mm in diameter, spherical, green, turning yellow and glossy orange-red when ripe
Ecology
markedly tolerant of open and shady sites in and at edges of both dry and wet forests, montane grassland and bushland, riverine associations, savanna woodland, thickets, and coastal bushland. altitude 0-2380
Distribution
Widespread in Tropical Africa distributed from Ethiopia Southwards to South Africa (kwazulu­ natal), also in Indian ocean islands and the Arabian peninsula.
Conservation
least concerned.
Phenology
Flower (april-july), fruit (april-july).
[SCG]

Uses

Use
edible when mature.
[SCG]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.
    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
  • IUCN Categories

    • IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
  • Kew Science Photographs

    • Copyright applied to individual images
  • Seed Collection Guides

    • Seed Collection Guides
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0