Solanum sisymbrifolium Lam.

Suberect annual herb to c. 1.5 m tall, stellate-hairy and glandular-viscid and sticky; stems, lvs and infl. prominently prickly; prickles to 1.7 cm long, orange-red, flattened and glandular-hairy towards base. Petioles to c. 4 cm long. Lamina to c. 14 × 8 cm, ± oblong-ovate, deeply pinnately and acutely lobed, with a distinct leaflet towards base, with hairs as on stems; base asymmetric. Cymes few-flowered; peduncles to c. 12 cm long, glandular-hairy and prickly; pedicels somewhat deflexed at fruiting. Calyx 5–8 mm long, densely glandular-hairy, ± prickly; lobes lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate. Corolla 2.5–3.5 cm diam., white or pale blue; lobes lanceolate or ovate, densely stellate-hairy outside, especially near midrib. Anthers c. 8.5 mm long. Berry 1–2 cm diam., globose, red, the lower 1/2 loosely enveloped in accrescent calyx; stone cells probably 0. Seed not seen.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Mar.–May.