Solanum robustum H.L.Wendl., Flora 27: 784. 1844.

Aubriot, Xavier & Knapp, Sandra, 2022, A revision of the " spiny solanums " of Tropical Asia (Solanum, the Leptostemonum Clade, Solanaceae), PhytoKeys 198, pp. 1-270 : 1

39. Solanum robustum H.L.Wendl., Flora 27: 784. 1844.

Fig. 41C-E

Type.

Cultivated in Hanover , Germany, from seeds sent from Brazil, Anonymous s.n. (no herbarium specimens cited, none found) .

Description.

Vorontsova and Knapp (2016: 280-284); http://www.solanaceaesource.org/solanaceae/solanum-robustum.

Distribution.

Solanum robustum has been collected in India (state of Tamil Nadu) and on the island of Réunion (two collections from the 1960s); it is native to southern South America. Outside of its native range it is apparently used as an ornamental (see Vorontsova and Knapp 2016).

Discussion.

Solanum robustum is a distinctive species with strongly winged stems and small, pubescent berries. Even vegetatively it is not easily confused with any other species in the region. It has the potential to become a serious pest; in Hawai’i it is classified as a noxious weed ( Wagner et al. 1999).

Solanum robustum was described without reference to herbaria or specific collections; we, like Vorontsova and Knapp (2016), leave neotypification of this name for a monographer of the group to which this distinctive species belongs (Erythrotrichum clade).

Specimens examined.

See Suppl. materials 1-3.

Figures

Figure 41. Introduced species of Solanum. Solanum mammosum L. A detail view of a flower (Stevens 35067, Nicaragua) B detail view of a fruit (Stevens 35067, Nicaragua). Solanum robustum H. L. Wendl. C habit (Sampath Kumar et al. 126920, India) D detail view of a short-styled flower (Sampath Kumar et al. 126920, India) E detail view of a fruit (Sampath Kumar et al. 126920, India). Solanum sisymbriifolium Lam. F habit (Sampath Kumar et al. 126922, India) G detail view of a flower (Sampath Kumar et al. 126922, India) H detail view of a fruit (Sampath Kumar et al. 126922, India). Photograph credits: A, B O. M. Montiel C-H X. Aubriot.