Solanum gnaphalocarpon Vell.

  • Authority

    Knapp, Sandra D. 2002. section (Solanaceae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 84: 1-404. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Solanaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Solanum gnaphalocarpon Vell.

  • Type

    Type. Brazil. Rio de Janeiro:  Crescit campis apricus mediterraneis (No specimens extant; lectotype, Vellozo, FI. Flumin. leones 2: fig. 91 ( Solanum gnaphalocarpus ). 1831 [1827], here designated).

  • Description

    Species Description - Shrubs 1-1.5 m tall; young stems and leaves densely pubescent with pale tan, closely branched dendritic trichomes 0.1-0.25 mm long; bark of older stems reddish-brown, not glabrescent. Sympodial units difoliate, geminate. Leaves narrowly elliptic to lanceolate, widest at the middle, sparsely pubescent with dendritic trichomes adaxially, the trichomes denser along the main veins, pubescent with closely branched dendritic trichomes abaxially, the trichomes 0.25-0.5 mm long, most of the trichome branches arising in the distal 1/3 of the trichome, denser along the veins; major leaves with 9-11 pairs of main lateral veins, 7.5-12 x 1.5-4.5 cm, the apex acute to acuminate, the base attenuate; petioles 3-7 mm long; minor leaves differing from the majors in size and often shape, elliptic to orbicular, 1-2.3 x 0.7-1.7 cm, the apex rounded to acute, the base acute; petioles 1-2 mm long. Inflorescences opposite the leaves, simple, 2-9 mm long, 2-5-flowered, densely pubescent with closely branched trichomes like those of the stems and leaves; pedicel scars closely spaced but not overlapping. Buds globose, later obovoid, the corolla strongly exserted from the calyx tube. Pedicels at anthesis probably deflexed, thin and tapering, 4-5 mm long, ca. 0.5 mm diam. at the base, densely pubescent like the rest of the inflorescence. Flowers with the calyx tube conical, 0.5-1 mm long, the lobes triangular, 0.1-5 mm long, densely pubescent with closely branched dendritic trichomes; corolla white, 5-7 mm diam., lobed 3/4 of the way to the base, the lobes planar at anthesis, the abaxial surface of the lobes pubescent with minute dendritic trichomes; anthers 2-2.5 mm long, poricidal at the tips, the pores teardrop shaped; free portion of the filaments ca. 0.25 mm long, the filament tube ca. 0.45 mm long, glabrous; ovary densely pubescent with dendritic trichomes; style 4-4.5 mm long, densely pubescent at the base with dendritic trichomes like those of the ovary, glabrous and somewhat clavate distally; stigma a minute papillose area on the tip of the style. Fruit a globose, green, densely pubescent berry, 1-1.3 cm diam., the pubescence consisting of closely branched trichomes ca. 1 mm long, the branches very short and congested; fruiting pedicels somewhat deflexed, 6-9 mm long, ca. 1 mm diam. at the base. Seeds pale brown, ovoid-reniform with somewhat incrassate margins, 3-4 x 2.5-3 mm, the surface minutely pitted, the cells sinuate in outline. Chromosome number unknown.

  • Discussion

    Solanum gnaphalocarpon is superficially similar to S. pseudocapsicum (S. pseudocapsicum species group) in its dendritic leaf pubescence and general leaf shape, but differs from that species in many characters. Solanum pseudocapsicum has flattened-reniform seeds, larger flowers and fruit, and never has orbicular minor leaves.

    The trichomes on the fruit of Solanum gnaphalocarpon are distinctive and found nowhere else in sect. Geminata. They are tree-like, but with the axis much elongated and the general aspect of the trichome approaching a stellate type morphology. In fruit, S. gnaphalocarpon is not easily mistaken for any other species of sect. Geminata.

  • Distribution

    In woods, secondary growth, and open areas from 700-1300 m. Southern Brazil in Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, and Sao Paulo states.

    Brazil South America| Minas Gerais Brazil South America| Paraná Brazil South America| Rio de Janeiro Brazil South America| São Paulo Brazil South America|