- Taxon
- Weed
- Gallery
Classification
Class
Family
Genus
Subordinate Taxa
Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Solanum pseudocapsicum L., Sp. Pl. 184 (1753) – as pseudo-capsicum
Synonymy:
- = Solanum capsicastrum Link ex Schauer (1833)
Vernacular Name(s):
Christmas cherry; Jerusalem cherry; Madeira winter cherry; Winter cherry
Description
Erect, unarmed shrub, glabrous or sometimes with few-branched hairs on very young shoots; stems wiry, 40–120–(200) cm tall. Petiole to 2 cm long, slender. Lamina 3–12 × 1–3 cm, lanceolate or elliptic-lanceolate, glossy above; margins usually undulate; base narrowly attenuate; apex obtuse or acute. Fls 1-several; peduncle 0–8 mm long; pedicels 5–10 mm long, erect at fruiting. Calyx 4–5 mm long; lobes lanceolate to ovate, slightly accrescent. Corolla c. 15 mm diam., white, glabrous; lobes oblong-ovate to ± triangular. Anthers 2.5–3 mm long. Berry 1.5–2 cm diam., globose, glossy, orange to scarlet, long-persistent; stone cells 0. Seeds c. 3 mm diam., suborbicular to reniform or obovoid, rather asymmetric; margin thickened.
[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]
Biostatus
Exotic
| Category | Number |
|---|---|
| Exotic: Fully Naturalised | 1 |
| Total | 1 |
Phenology
Flowering: Oct.–May.
Bibliography
Connor, H.E. 1977: The Poisonous Plants in New Zealand. Edition 2. Government Printer, Wellington.
Connor, H.E.; Fountain, J. 2009: Plants that Poison: A New Zealand Guide. Manaaki Whenua Press, Lincoln.
Howell, C. 2008: Consolidated list of environmental weeds in New Zealand. DOC Research & Development Series 292: 42.
Knapp, S. 2002: Solanum sectiion Geminata (Solanaceae). Flora Neotropica Monograph 84: 1–404.
Linnaeus, C. 1753: Species Plantarum. Impensis Laurentii Salvii, Stockholm.
Stewart, J. 1971: Plants in New Zealand Poisonous to Man. New Zealand Department of Health, Wellington.
