Solanum oligacanthum
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Solanum Oligacanthum is a species of herbaceous perennial herb or subshrub which is spread throughout central east Australia (South-West Queensland, North-West New South Wales, and North-East South Australia) [1]. This species is often found in seasonally flooded creek channels, flats and lagoons, and commonly referred to as Desert Nightshade.[2][3]
Description
The Solanum Oligacanthum is an erect, colonal, herbacious perenial species[1]. It grows up to 1m in size. This species is of pale grey-green colour, resulting from densely pubescent stellate hairs (up to 16mm long).
Its leave broadly ovate[2], 7-20mm wide and long, with the apex obtuse and rounded, and the base obtuse to cordate.
The corollas is purple and rotate (20-25mm diameter), containing the yellow[3] anthers arranged in the centre forming a cone-like structure[4].
Its seeds are long (4-5mm), black or dark-brownish in colour.
Ecology
S. Oligacanthum grows in arid shrub lands within Australia. New growth occurs in spring, and most top growth dies down over winter leaving dead stubble.
This species like most Solanum pollinate through a process know as 'Buzz Pollination'[3].
It is classified as a weed within some parts of South Australia[2].
Taxonomy
S. Oligacanthum is part of the Solanum genus. This is a large genus of flowering plants contain approximately 1500 species.
Scientific Classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Charophyta
Class: Equisetopsida
Subclass: Magnoliidae
Superorder: Asteranae
Order: Solanales
Family: Solanaceae
Genus: Solanum
Species: Solanum Oligacanthum
Distribution and Conservation Status.
Desert Nightshade (Solanum Oligacanthum) is distributed predominately within central eastern Australia. Spread between South-West Queensland, North-West New South Wales, and North-East South Australia. With some being found on the Eastern Coast of South Australia as well[1]. There is no conservation status listed for Solanum Oligacanthum[6] so it is assumed this species conservation is of low-concern.
Gallery
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S. Oligacanthum photographed by Marja Bouman showing the shrubs full extent. -
S. Oligacanthum photographed by Ian McMaster showing a close up of multiple flowers. -
S. Oligacanthum photographed by Arthur Chapman showing a close up of a single flower, and visble cone-like anther.
References
- ^ a b Alexander, George (1982). "Solanaceae" (PDF). Floral of Australia. 29.
- ^ a b Walsh, Nevlille (February 10, 2021). "Flora of Victoria". VicFlora.
- ^ a b Vallejo‐Marín, Mario; Pereira Nunes, Carlos Eduardo; Russell, Avery Leigh (2022-03-31). "Anther cones increase pollen release in buzz‐pollinated Solanum flowers". Evolution. 76 (5): 931–945. doi:10.1111/evo.14485. ISSN 0014-3820. PMC 9313847. PMID 35324004.
{{cite journal}}: line feed character in|title=at position 56 (help)CS1 maint: PMC format (link) - ^ Faegri, Knut (1986-01). "The solanoid flower". Transactions of the Botanical Society of Edinburgh. 45 (sup1): 51–59. doi:10.1080/03746608608684993. ISSN 0374-6607.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Search: species: Solanum oligacanthum | Occurrence records | Atlas of Living Australia". biocache.ala.org.au. Retrieved 2024-06-17.
- ^ "Species Profile and Threats Database". Australian Government - Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Evironment, and Water.