Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Solanum betaceum Cav., Anales Hist. Nat. 1: 44 (1799)
Synonymy:
  • Cyphomandra betacea (Cav.) Sendtn. (1845)
Vernacular Name(s):
Tamarillo
 Description

Large shrub or small tree with pale bark, to c. 3 m high, with short glandular hairs, especially on young parts. Petiole to c. 10 cm long, sometimes to c. 25 cm on large juvenile lvs. Lamina mostly 8–20 × 5–11 cm but larger on some young plants, ovate-oblong to broad-ovate, densely clothed in short glandular hairs to glabrous beneath, entire, foetid, purple-tinged when young; base deeply cordate; apex acute to shortly acuminate. Cymes with up to 15, ± pendent fls. Calyx 4–5 mm long; teeth shallow. Corolla 1.3–1.6 cm long, pale pink, darker in bud; lobes narrow-lanceolate or narrow-triangular, much > tube, densely ciliolate. Stamens included; anthers opening by pores. Stigma small. Fr. (4)–5–7 cm long, ovoid or broad-ovoid, pendulous, edible; skin and pulp usually dark red, rarely yellow.

[From: Webb et al. (1985) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4 as Cyphomandra betacea (Cav.) Sendtn.]

 Biostatus
Exotic
 Bibliography
Bohs, L. 1995: Transfer of Cyphomandra (Solanaceae) and its species to Solanum. Taxon 44: 583–587.
Cavanilles, A.J. 1799: Descripcion de los géneros nuevos y de otras plantas. Anales de Historia Natural 1(1): 33–45.
Steele, R.; Lowe, M. 2002–2006: Index. Subtropicals Index: 1–12.