Citation: F. Muell., Trans. Phil. Soc. Vic. 1:18 (1854).

Synonymy: Solanum sturtii

Common name: Sturts nightshade, Thargomindah nightshade.

Description:
An erect clonal shrub 0.5-1 rarely to 3 m tall, stems lasting several years, often somewhat willowly, rarely intricately branched; prickles variable; plants sometimes without prickles or almost so, usually with prickles 5-6 mm long scattered along the stem, rarely on other parts; all parts pubescent with a close dense tomentum of stellate hairs; leaves silvery below, grey-green above, discolorous, 3-6 x 0.5-1.3 cm, lanceolate, entire, sometimes slightly undulate, apex acute or rounded, base symmetrically rounded or oblique; petiole 0.5-1.5 cm; inflorescence a cyme of a few to 12 flowers; peduncle c. 1 cm long, short or absent; floral rhachis 5-6 mm long; pedicel 5-8 mm long; calyx 3-4 mm, campanulate; lobes 1-2 mm, their apices rounded; corolla rotate-stellate, 3-4 cm diam., often showy, lobes broad and rounded, interpetalar tissue well developed and equalling the tips; filaments 1-2 mm long; anthers 5-6 mm long, lanceolate, tapering, loosely erect; ovary minutely glandular-pubescent; style c. 1 cm long, erect, slightly thickened towards the apex, glandular-pubescent towards the base; stigma pale-green.

Fruiting pedicel firm; calyx not much enlarged; berry 1-1.5 cm diam., globular, at first marbled-green later yellow to brownish-black, dry not fleshy, skin brittle and breaking irregularly; seeds 3-5 mm, very dark-brown to black, flat though twisted slightly, the margins distinct, raised and smooth, the faces with minute raised tubercles.

	Flowering and fruiting branch and a fruit.
Image source: fig. 579B in Jessop J.P. & Toelken H.R. (Ed.) 1986. Flora of South Australia (4th edn).

Published illustration: Cunningham et al. (1982) Plants of western New South Wales, p. 589; Rotherham et al. (1975) Flowers and plants of New South Wales and southern Queensland, p. 151.

Distribution:  S.Aust.: NW, LE, GT, FR, EA, EP, NL, MU.   W.Aust.; N.T.; Qld; N.S.W. Conservation status: native Flowering time: March — Oct.

SA Distribution Map based on current data relating to specimens held in the State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: No text

Author: Not yet available