Spermatophytes (seed plants): Angiosperms (flowering plants): Eudicots: Core Eudicots: Asterids: Lamiids: Solanales
WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/24/22):
Solanum tampicense
FAMILY
Solanaceae
Go to FSUS key
Dig deeper at SERNEC, a consortium of southeastern herbaria.
Check out EDDMapS.org to see where this has been reported.
SYNONYMOUS WITH
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Solanum tampicense
FAMILY
Solanaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH Floristic Synthesis of North America. BONAP (Kartesz, 2021)
Solanum tampicense
SYNONYMOUS WITH Guide to the Vascular Plants of Florida (Wunderlin & Hansen, 2011)
Solanum tampicense
COMMON NAME:
Wetland Nightshade, Aquatic Soda Apple
To see larger pictures, click or hover over the thumbnails.
)
Alison Fox, University of Florida, Bugwood.org bug_0002143
Month Unknown
Leaves to 10" long and 3" wide, wavy along margins, with prickles on veins, per www.invasive.org.
)
Charles T. Bryson, USDA Agricultural Research. Bugwood.org bug_1392079
Month Unknown
A sprawling, semi-woody shrub tolerant of full sun and full shade, per www.invasive.org.
)
Charles T. Bryson, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org bug_1392080
Month Unknown
)
Charles T. Bryson, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org bug_1392082
Month Unknown
)
Alison Fox, University of Florida, Bugwood.org bug_2308004
Month Unknown
Small white flowers occur in clusters at the leaf axils, per www.invasive.org.
)
Florida Division of Plant Industry Archive, Bugwood.org bug_5294045
Month Unknown
The green stems are up to 15' (4.6m) long and prickly, per www.invasive.org.
)
Florida Division of Plant Industry Archive, Bugwood.org bug_5294046
Month Unknown
Fruits are small tomato-like berries that turn bright red when ripe, per www.invasive.org.
)
Julia Scher, Federal Noxious Weeds Disseminules, USDA APHIS ITP, Bugwood.org bug_5376816
Month Unknown
WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/24/22):
Solanum tampicense
FAMILY
Solanaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Solanum tampicense
FAMILY
Solanaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH
Floristic Synthesis of North America. BONAP (Kartesz, 2021)
Solanum tampicense
SYNONYMOUS WITH
Guide to the Vascular Plants of Florida (Wunderlin & Hansen, 2011)
Solanum tampicense
3836
Shrub; almost vinelike
Perennial
Habitat: Strand swamps, cypress domes, and other forested wetlands, per Weakley's Flora
Non-native: Mexico, Central America, West Indies
CLICK HERE to see a map, notes, and images from Weakley's Flora of the Southeastern US.
This plant is causing problems in natural areas outside its native range, according to authorities such as:
- Alabama Invasive Plant Council, 2012
- SC Department of Natural Resources Aquatic Nuisance Species List, 2003
- SC List of Regulated Pest Plant Species, 2017
- USDA Federal Noxious Weeds, 091820
IS THE PLANT "ARMED"?
Stems, and often leaves, prickly and/or spiny
LEAVES:
Simple
Alternate
Petioles to 3cm long
FLOWER:
Spring/Summer
White
Radially symmetrical
5-merous
5-lobed synsepalous calyx
5-parted rotate corolla
Superior ovary
Bisexual
FRUIT:
Summer/Fall
Green to Orange to Red
Berry
TO LEARN MORE about this plant, look it up in a good book!
If a search such as "Carex leptalea var. leptalea" doesn't deliver the results you want, try "Carex leptalea".
Or, to minimize chances of a misspelling, try just "Carex le".
Less is more: If "pencil flower" doesn't deliver the results you want, try "pencil".