S. rostratum (Hosking 1095 , between Somerton and Manilla, NSW). Photo: J. Hosking © J.Hosking.

Group characteristics

Sprawling or erect herbaceous shrubs, with deeply lobed adult leaves. Stem prickles and branchlet prickles straight, widened or not at base. Stellate hairs present in all parts. Inflorescences not branched. Flowers all bisexual, 5-merous, yellow. Calyx with prickles. Corolla lobes glabrous on inner face. Stamens with one anther longer than other four. Ovary glabrous. Mature fruits yellow or orange, 9-12 mm diameter, mesocarp dry; calyx enclosing most or all of mature fruit.

Distribution

12 species in the Americas, one of these species naturalised in Australia.

Australian members of group

Members of the S. rostratum group of Solanum subgenus Leptostemonum

*S. rostratum

See Bean, A.R. (2004). The taxonomy and ecology of Solanum subg. Leptostemonum (Dunal)Bitter (Solanaceae) in Queensland and far north-eastern New South Wales, Australia. Austrobaileya 6: 639-816.