Solanum americanum Mill.

  • Authority

    Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro & collaborators. 1996. Flora of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 78: 1-581.

  • Family

    Solanaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Solanum americanum Mill.

  • Description

    Species Description - Erect, unarmed herb 30-80 cm tall, single-stemmed with numerous lateral branches; stems herbaceous, slightly angled to nearly cylindrical, puberulent or glabrous, the angles usually with soft, minute conical projections. Leaf blades 5-17 x 2-10 cm, ovate to lanceolate, chartaceous, sparsely pubescent or glabrous, the apex acute to acuminate, the base attenuate, the margins entire to deeply sinuate. Flowers usually reflexed, in short, umbel-like, lateral racemes; peduncle filiform, 0.9-2 cm long. Calyx bellshaped, ca. 1 mm long, the sepals ovate; corolla white, with a very short tube, the lobes 2.5-3.5 mm long, lanceolate, reflexed; anthers yellow, oblong, 1.5-2 mm long; style slender, the stigma nearly capitate. Berry fleshy, globose, 7-8 mm long, turning from green to purplish black when mature. Seeds numerous, beige, lenticular, ca. 1.3 mm long.

  • Discussion

    Solanum nodiflorum Jacq., Collectanea 1: 100. 1788. Solanum nigrum sensu Britton & P. Wilson, Bot. Porto Rico 6: 166. 1925, non L., 1753

  • Distribution

    A common roadside weed of moist areas. Road to Bordeaux (A3140), Concordia (A4254), trail to Sieben (A2058). Also on St. Croix, St. Thomas, Tortola. and Virgin Gorda; widespread as a weed throughout the tropics.

    Saint John Virgin Islands of the United States South America| Tortola Virgin Islands South America| Saint Thomas Virgin Islands of the United States South America| Saint Croix Virgin Islands of the United States South America|