Solanum eminens A.R.Bean

Bean, A.R. (2004) Austrobaileya 6(4):: 754. Type: Queensland. Cook District: Bellenden Ker Range, 11 October 1974, B. Hyland 7772 (holo: BRI; iso: QRS.

Sprawling perennial vine or shrubs 1-2 m high.

Twigs, petioles and leaf blades densely armed with spines 2-4 mm long and with in stellate hairs. Adult leaves broadly ovate, 5-7 shallow lobes on each side. Lamina 8-12 cm long, 5-7.5 cm wide. Upper and lower surface with prickles on midvein and lateral veins.

Inflorescence axillary, branched, 7-10-flowered. Pedicels about 12-18 mm long, with or without prickles. Calyx tube 2.5-3.5 mm long, lobes about 0.5-3 mm long, stellate hairs yellow, white or purple. Corolla purplish, 9-14 mm long, stellate hairs present on inner surface. Anthers about 5.5-6.5 mm long. Ovary with stellate hairs only. Style 8.5 mm long.

Fruits globular, 1 per inflorescence, about 17 mm diam., orange. Seeds about 1.9-2.4 mm long, pale yellow.

At the tenth leaf stage: leaf blade densely stellate hairy on both the upper and lower surfaces, margin lobed. Straight spines usually present on the stem, petiole and along the midrib. Terminal bud densely clothed in stellate hairs. Seed germination time 10 days.

Endemic to Queensland, occurs in NEQ. Altitudinal range above 1500 m. Grows on the highest mountains in wet rainforest.