Solanum mauritianum Scop.

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Photo: Petra Ballings
Jevington Rd, Vumba

Photo: Bart Wursten
At edge of north-eastern side of Tsetsera plateau

Photo: Mark Hyde
Hatcliffe South Extension

Photo: Mark Hyde
Churchill Avenue, opposite Falmouth Road, Harare

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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms:
Common names:	Bug tree (English) Bugweed (English)
Frequency:	Locally very common
Status:	Introduced
Description:	Fast-growing, foetid, densely stellate-tomentose, unarmed, shrub or small tree to 4 m. Prominent leafy false stipules usually present at base of petiole. Leaves: petiole (2-)4-5 cm; lamina 15-30(-40) × 6-11(-20) cm, ovate to elliptic, entire, acuminate. Cymes pedunculate, many-flowered, flat-topped, terminal. Calyx 5-6 mm; lobes broadly elliptic. Corolla 1.6-2 cm across, stellate to pentagonal, violet-blue. Anthers 2.6-3 mm, pale yellow. Berry c.1.5 cm, spherical, dull yellow.
Type location:
Notes:	An early coloniser of cleared areas in the Vumba; however, it is eventually shaded out by the redeveloping forest.In leaf, it is superficially similar to Vernonia myriantha. See that species for information on how to separate them.
Derivation of specific name:	mauritianum: from Mauritius although this species is not indigenous to Mauritius.
Habitat:	An aggressive alien invader in disturbed areas, on roadsides and appearing spontaneously in gardens, probably birdsown. It appears to act as a pioneer in cleared areas of forest, invading and dominating these clearings for some time.
Altitude range: (metres)	1250 - 2020 m
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Origin uncertain, possibly South American or Asian, now well naturalised throughout the tropics and in some temperate countries as well
FZ divisions:	W,C,E
Growth form(s):	Tree, shrub over 2 m.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:	Coeliades forestan forestan (Food plant)
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Images last updated:	Saturday 23 September 2006
Literature:	Bikandu, B., Lukoki, F., Habari, J.P., Ntore, S. & Sosef, M.S.M. (2020). Solanaceae Flore d'Afrique Centrale Nouvelle Serie Jardin Botanique Meise, Belgique Pages 36 - 38. (Includes a picture). Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 870. (Includes a picture). Gonçalves, A.E. (2005). Solanaceae Flora Zambesiaca 8(4) Pages 86 - 88. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 80. Troupin, G. (1985). Solanaceae Flore du Rwanda Spermatophytes Volume III Page 380. (Includes a picture).

Other sources of information about Solanum mauritianum:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Solanum mauritianum
Flora of Caprivi: Solanum mauritianum
Flora of the DRC: Solanum mauritianum
Flora of Malawi: Solanum mauritianum
Flora of Mozambique: Solanum mauritianum
Flora of Rwanda: Solanum mauritianum
Flora of Zambia: Solanum mauritianum
Flora of Zimbabwe: cultivated Solanum mauritianum

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Solanum mauritianum
African Plant Database: Solanum mauritianum
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Solanum mauritianum
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Solanum mauritianum
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Solanum mauritianum
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Solanum mauritianum
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Solanum mauritianum
JSTOR Plant Science: Solanum mauritianum
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Solanum mauritianum
Plants of the World Online: Solanum mauritianum
Tropicos: Solanum mauritianum
Wikipedia: Solanum mauritianum