PLANT 148 SMP OCT09 Solanaceae

[Satish Phadke]

A commonly observed Solanaceae member growing wild in open spaces in Pune.
is it called as Solanum indicum?

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http:// satishphadke.blogspot.com

[Dr Gurcharan Singh]

Satish ji

Firstly the plant looks much more glabrous than expected.

Secondly the taxonomy of Solanum indicum L. is very complex. One thing is sure, Solanum indicum L. can't be used as name, as it has been listed as rejected name in 2006 publication of Botanical Code. Now what are the possibilities for our plants of S. indicum. According to GRIN taxonomy page S. indicum L. is now S. lasiocarpum Dunal, whereas S. indicum auct. is S. anguivi Lam. According to Eflora of China S. indicum L. is synonym of S. violaceum Ortega. Eflora of Pakistan prefers S. anguivi for S. indicum. Here is the key for three species that we should keep in mind while sorting specimens of S. indicum L.

 

Solanum lasiocarpum Dunal: Leaf 10-20 × 8-18 cm ;Corolla white; Fruit densely stellate, 2 cm, orange; calyx lobes nearly leaflike, 8-10 mm long

 

Solanum violaceum Ortega: Leaf 5-11 × 2-8 cm; Corolla blue-purple, sometimes white; Fruit glabrous, 8-13 mm, shiny orange; calyx lobes not leaflike, mostly less than 7 mm.

 

Solanum anguivi Lam.: Leaves 4-15 x 3.5-9 cm; lowers bluish purple; Fruit 8-10 mm, glabrescent, yellow;calyx lobes not leaf-like, nearly 4 mm

 

 

So barring more glabrous plants, your plant should be S. violaceum. Berries appear glabrous to me. You may please check on above features and decide.

 

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Dr. Gurcharan Singh
Associate Professor, Department of Botany, SGTB Khalsa College
University of Delhi, Delhi-110007
Res: 932 Anand Kunj, Vikas Puri, New Delhi-110018
Phone: 01125518297; Mobile: 9810359089
http://people.du.ac.in/~singhg45/

[Prashant awale]

Dear Satish ji,

Could this be Solanum torvum.

Thanks & best wishes
Prashant

[Dr Gurcharan Singh]

Yes Prashant ji and Satish ji

S. torvum fits much better

 

--
Dr. Gurcharan Singh
Associate Professor, Department of Botany, SGTB Khalsa College
University of Delhi, Delhi-110007
Res: 932 Anand Kunj, Vikas Puri, New Delhi-110018
Phone: 01125518297; Mobile: 9810359089
http://people.du.ac.in/~singhg45/

[Dr Santhosh Kumar]

Dear Sir,

 

It is Solanum torvum a very common plant in Kerala. Tender fruits are good vegetable too.

 

Thanks

 

Santhosh

2009/10/9 Dr Gurcharan Singh <sin...@sify.com>

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SANTHOSH
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Dr. E.S. Santhosh Kumar
Tropical BOtanic Garden and Research Institute, Palode
Thiruvananthapuram-695562
Kerala
India
www.drsanthosh.wetpaint.com

[Satish Phadke]

BSI Maha. flora says
Leaves sinuate to subpinnately lobed:
        Spines recurved  less than 1 cm
            a)Corolla white.... S. stramonifolium
            a)Corolla violet or bluish violet.... S. torvum.
I think the leaves and the recurved spines from my pictures match the above description. Only factor which differs is colour ... Otherwise it is matching most of the pictures of S. torvum on the net.
Satish

2009/10/9 Satish Phadke <phadke...@gmail.com>

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http:// satishphadke.blogspot.com

[Dr Gurcharan Singh]

Santosh ji

Let us now try to solve the mystery of Indian Solanum indicum L. Is it S. lasiocarpum, S. violaceum or S. anguivi, or else all the three are represented in India. Let us check material we have available, or keep eye on future posts.

 

Let it be the focus of our attention. All members please note.

 

--
Dr. Gurcharan Singh
Associate Professor, Department of Botany, SGTB Khalsa College
University of Delhi, Delhi-110007
Res: 932 Anand Kunj, Vikas Puri, New Delhi-110018
Phone: 01125518297; Mobile: 9810359089
http://people.du.ac.in/~singhg45/