 Photo: B. Fuhrer © B. Fuhrer (Permission to be sought from Bruce for use - used in family key) |
 Simpson Desert. Photo: A. Robinson © A. Robinson |
 Photo: A. Robinson © A. Robinson |
 Photo: A. Robinson © A. Robinson |
 Line drawing by M. Szent Ivany, J. Adelaide Bot. Gard. 4 (1981) 207, fig. 86. |
 Distribution map generated from Australia's Virtual Herbarium. |
Synonymy
Solanum oligacanthum F. Muell, Trans. Philos. Soc. Victoria 1: 19 (1854): see Taxon 35: 270 for discussion of the date of this publication.
T: Central Australia, C. Sturt s.n.; holo: MEL 11991; iso: BM. An image
Description
Erect, clonal, herbaceous perennial herb or subshrub to 1 m, pale grey-green, densely pubescent with minute stellate hairs; prickles to 16 mm long, often pubescent in lower half, on stems, sometimes paired at base of petiole, generally absent elsewhere.
Leaves broadly ovate; lamina 8–20 mm long, 7–20 mm, wide, sometimes larger, concolorous to slightly discolorous, entire or shallowly lobed at base; petiole 1–5 mm long.
Inflorescence short, 1–6–flowered; peduncle to 10 mm long; pedicels 4–5 mm long. Calyx 5–8 mm long; lobes triangular, 2–3.5 mm long. Corolla rotate, 20–25 mm diam., lavender-blue. Anthers 4–5 mm long.
Berry globular or depressed globular, 4–10 mm diam., pale yellow. Seeds 4–5 mm long, black or dark brown. n=12.
A more comprehensive description can be found at http://delta-intkey.com/solanum/www/oligacan.htm
Distribution and ecology
Occurs mainly in south-western Qld, north-western N.S.W. and north-eastern S.A.; established as a weed in southern S.A.
Usually associated with seasonally flooded creek channels, flats and lagoons.
Relationships
Part of the S. esuriale group of subgen. Leptostemonum according to Bean (2004).
Notes
As with a number of Solanum species this one has been recorded as having populations in which 50% of the flowers are white (P. Conrick 1358 (AD) from Lake Eyre region).
Selected specimens
S.A.: Coopers Creek, R. Hill 473 (AD); 23 km SW of Etadunna Homestead, M. Lazarides 8372 (CANB); N of Tinga Tingana on road to Gidgealpa, D.E. Symon 5891 (AD). Qld: W of Durrie, S.L. Everist & L.S. Smith 82 (BRI). N.S.W.: Sturt National Park, K. Wilson 1657 (NSW).
From the web
Further information on this species in NSW can be seen on the PlantNET site and a fact sheet can be downloaded from the SA eFlora site.
Further information, images and links for this species can be found on the Solanaceae Source site.