Solanum mauritianum Scop.

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Solanum mauritianum

Photo: Petra Ballings
Jevington Rd, Vumba

Solanum mauritianum

Photo: Petra Ballings
Jevington Rd, Vumba

Solanum mauritianum

Photo: Petra Ballings
Jevington Rd, Vumba

Solanum mauritianum

Photo: Petra Ballings
Jevington Rd, Vumba

Solanum mauritianum

Photo: Mark Hyde
Hatcliffe South Extension

Solanum mauritianum

Photo: Mark Hyde
Hatcliffe South Extension

Solanum mauritianum

Photo: Mark Hyde
Hatcliffe South Extension

Solanum mauritianum

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.
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
Zimbabwe distribution: 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:

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.


Other sources of information about Solanum mauritianum:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Solanum mauritianum
Flora of Caprivi: Solanum mauritianum
Flora of Malawi: Solanum mauritianum
Flora of Mozambique: 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


Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2002-24

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2024). Flora of Zimbabwe: Species information: Solanum mauritianum.
https://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=150690, retrieved 19 March 2024

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