Potatotree

This species was long known as Solanum verbascifolium Linnaeus, which has been shown to be a different plant now known as S. donianum Walpers.

The species sometimes attains the size of a small tree. Found in the subhimalayan tract and adjacent plains to 1600 m. The dried herbage mixed in water is said to be good for inflammation and burns (Chopra, Gloss. Ind. Med. Pl. p. 230. 1956). In S. India the fruit is used in curries (J. L. Stewart, Punj. Pl. p. 160.1868).

Shrubs or small trees 1.5-10 m tall, unarmed, stellate tomentose overall. Petiole stout, 1.5-5.5 cm; leaf blade ovate-oblong or elliptic, 10-29 × 4-12 cm, base cuneate or obtuse, entire or sinuate, apex short acuminate. Inflorescences erect, appearing terminal, flat-topped or rounded panicles; peduncle 3-10 cm. Pedicel 3-5 mm. Calyx campanulate, ca. 1 cm in diam.; lobes ovate, ca. 3 mm. Corolla white; lobes oblong, 6-7 × 3-4 mm. Filaments ca. 1 mm; anthers ca. 2 mm. Style glabrous, 4-6 mm. Berry yellow-brown, globose, ca. 1.2 cm in diam. Seeds compressed, 1-2 mm in diam. Fl. and fr. nearly throughout the year.

An erect shrub from 120-150 cm or more tall. Young shoots and branchlets dense stellate-tomentose with yellowish-white indument. Leaves 8-25 x 4-9.5 cm, elliptic-ovate, acute to acuminate, stellately tomentose, cuneate, under surface (in dried state) lighter coloured. Petiole 20-30 (-40) mm long. Flowers 15-25 in number, in dense terminal and axillary corymbose cymes, white. Peduncle up to 90 mm long, ± stout. Calyx ± cupular, tomentose; lobes c. 3 mm long, acute, slightly enlarged in fruit. Corolla slightly exceeding the calyx; limb 14-16 mm broad, lobes 4.5 mm long, acute. Anthers oblong, 4-5 mm long; filaments 1.5 mm long, glabrous. Style glabrous. Ovary glabrescent. Berry globose, 8-10 mm broad, yellow. Seeds ± discoid, minutely reticulate.

Tropics, India, Malaya, Indo-China, N. Australia, Tropical America.

Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Sichuan, Taiwan, Xizang, Yunnan, [native of South America, widespread in tropical Asia and Oceania]

Distribution: S. Asia, N. Australia and tropical America.

200-1400 m

Fl. Per.: Mostly throughout the year.

Waste places, thickets; 300-2100 m.