Solanum tetrandrum R.Br.

Solanaceae

Brown, R. (1810) Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae : 445. Type: Northern Territory, Cotton & Pobassoo Is., Arnhem Bay, R. Brown s.n.; lecto: BM; iso: MEL. Fide D. E. Symon, J. Adelaide Bot. Gard. 4: 122 (1981).

Usually flowers and fruits as a shrub about 1-3 m tall.

Leaf blades about 5.5-12 x 2.5-7 cm, petioles about 1-3.5 cm long. Both the upper and lower leaf blade surfaces clothed in stellate hairs similarly the new shoots and petioles. Lateral veins about 7 on each side of the midrib.

Inflorescence about as long as the leaf petioles. Flowers about 12-17 mm diam. Pedicels and the outer surfaces of the calyx and corolla clothed in stellate hairs. Calyx tube about 1.5-2 mm long, lobes about 1.5 mm long. Corolla tube about 2 mm long, lobes about 7-8 mm long. Stamens attached to the corolla tube just below the throat, filaments about 0.5-2 mm long, anthers about 4-5 mm long. Ovary about 2 mm long. Style about 7-8 mm long. Ovules numerous.

Fruits globose, glabrous, about 6-8 mm diam., calyx lobes persistent at the base of the fruit. Seeds numerous, flattened, patelliform, about 2.5-4 mm diam. Embryo coiled (with the cotyledons in the centre) or U-shaped.

Features not available.

Occurs in NT. Altitudinal range very small. Frequently found growing in vegetation close to beach but not completely confined to this habitat. Also occurs in New Caledonia and some other western Pacific islands.

Solanum tetrandrum var. floribundum Benth., Flora Australiensis 4: 449(1868), Type: From Leichhardts collection, a single specimen in Herb. F. Mueller.