Solanaceae Week: Solanum viarum from Kullu-Manali

[Gurcharan Singh]

 Solanum viarum Dunal in A. de Candolle, Prodr. 13(1): 240. 1852.

syn: Solanum khasianum C. B. Clarke var. chatterjeeanum Sen Gupta.

This tropical soda apple, a native of America is becoming common in many parts of the world ascending in Himalayas to 2600 m. Somewhat similar to S. capsicoides (syn: S. aculeatissimum) in longer prickles, but latter has much more longer prickles often reaching 2 cm and much less hairy leaves often lustrous in appearance, berries yellow (S. aculeatissimum) or orange red (S. capsicoides (s. str.). S. viarum has typically young berries with white and green patches, mature yellow, leaves much densely hairy, and shorter mixed straight and curved prickles.

Photographed from Kullu and Manali in October, 2009.

--
Dr. Gurcharan Singh
Retired  Associate Professor
SGTB Khalsa College, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007
Res: 932 Anand Kunj, Vikas Puri, New Delhi-110018.
Phone: 011-25518297  Mob: 9810359089
http://people.du.ac.in/~singhg45/