Solanum cookii Symon

Symon, D.E. (1981) Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens 4: 233. Type: Queensland, cultivated D.E. Symon, seed ex Webb & Tracy 8355, x.1969, Upper Lankelly Creek. Holo: ADW; iso: BRI, CANB, K.

Nightshade

Usually flowers and fruits as a shrub about 1-2 m tall.

Spines present on the twigs, petioles and both leaf surfaces. Spines about 5-10 mm long. Leaf blades about 5-16 x 3.5-12 cm. Stellate hairs visible on the underside of the leaf blade but not on the upper, simple hairs visible on both surfaces. Leaves often produced in pairs on the twigs but both leaves appear to be on the same side of the twig.

Inflorescence axis, pedicels and calyx armed with straight spines. Pedicels about 3-8.5 mm long. Calyx about 7-11 mm long, lobes about 5-8 mm long. Corolla about 15-20 mm diam., outer surface pubescent and with a few spines along the midrib running to the corolla lobe. Anthers about 3.5-5 mm long. Ovary glabrous. Basal part of the style clothed in glandular hairs. Stigma pale green, slightly wider than the style.

Fruits globular, about 10-15 mm diam. Calyx green, spiny, persistent at the base of the fruit. Pedicel spiny. Seeds numerous, about 1.5-2.5 x 0.8-1.5 mm, patelliform. Embryo forming a ring, cotyledons no wider than the radicle.

Cotyledons lanceolate, about 4-10 x 2-5 mm, petiole about as long as the cotyledons. First pair of leaves alternate, petioles and leaves armed with spines, underside clothed in simple and stellate hairs, upper surface clothed in simple hairs. At the tenth leaf stage: simple hairs visible on the upper surface, stellate and simple hairs visible on the lower surface of the leaf blade. Simple hairs often with glands at the tip. Stem, petiole and both leaf surfaces armed with spines.

Endemic to Queensland, occurs in CYP, NEQ and the northern part of CEQ. Altitudinal range from 400-1100 m. Grows in disturbed areas particularly road edges, in upland and mountain rain forest usually where the rainfall is at the lower end of the range which supports rain forest.