Solanum ciliatum Lam.

• Authority

  Britton, Nathaniel L. Flora Borinqueña.

• Family

  Solanaceae

• Scientific Name

  Solanum ciliatum Lam.

• Description

  Species Description - Hitherto unrecorded as a Porto Rican plant, this large, prickly, scarlet-fruited herb was observed by Mrs. Horne in August 1931, growing plentifully along roads near Maricao. The plant is conspicuous, and if it grew here any considerable number of years ago, must have been detected by some of the many botanists who have studied the plants of this region. We therefore conclude that it is of recent introduction, effectively established through abundant production of fruit and seed. The species has wide geographic distribution, nearly throughout tropical America, ranging north to Bermuda, and the southern United States. We refer to our description of Solanum Seaforthianum for an account of the genus Solanum. Solanum ciliatum (fringed) is perennial, slightly woody, usually much branched, from 0.6 to 1.2 meters high, somewhat long-hairy, the branches, leaves, and the flower-clusters armed with straight, yellow prickles. Its thin, broadly ovate, stalked leaves are from 7 to 15 centimeters long, variously lobed, or wavy-margined. The flowers are few together, in stalked, lateral clusters the short calyx is prickly, with ovate, pointed lobes; the white corolla is from 12 to 20 millimeters broad; the anthers are 5 or 6 millimeters long. The smooth, globose, scarlet berries are from 1.5 to 2 centimeters in diameter.

• Discussion

  Berengena de gallina Cockroach Berry Potato Family Solanum ciliatum Lamarck, Tableux Encyclopédie Méthodique 2: 21.1797.