Solanum macoorai F.M.Bailey

Bailey, F.M. (1893) Queensland Department of Agriculture and Stock. Botany Bulletin 8: 80. Type: Queensland, Summit of south peak Bellenden-Ker, June, 1889, F. M. Bailey; holo: BRI. Cultivated Brisbane.

Nightshade

Usually flowers and fruits as a shrub about 1-4 m tall.

Leaves rather variable depending on the size of the plant. Leaf blades about 5-10 x 2-4 cm, margins smooth or sinuate. Spines present or absent on the twigs, petioles and leaves. Twigs, petioles and lower leaf surface clothed in small stellate hairs, upper surface of the leaf blade +/- glabrous. Petioles about 1-2 cm long.

Pedicels about 10-15 mm long. Calyx about 5-8 mm long, lobes about 2.5-3 mm long, outer surface clothed in stellate hairs. Corolla about 20-30 mm diam., outer surface clothed in stellate and simple hairs. Anthers about 4-5 mm long. Upper part of the ovary and style clothed in stellate hairs.

Fruits globular or ovoid, about 15-20 mm diam., calyx stellate hairy, persistent at the base. Pedicels about 20-30 mm long. Seeds about 3 mm long. Embryo U-shaped or coiled, cotyledons no wider than the radicle.

Cotyledons ovate to elliptic, about 10-12 x 5-7 mm. First pair of leaves alternate, hairy, margins smooth, toothed or lobed. At the tenth leaf stage: lower leaf surface clothed in stellate hairs, upper leaf surface much more sparsely hairy. Stem, petiole and both the upper and lower surfaces of the leaf blade armed with straight spines about 4-7 mm long. Seed germination time 7 to 38 days.

Occurs in CYP (?) and NEQ. Altitudinal range from  750-1200 m. Grows as an understory plant in disturbed upland and mountain rain forest.