Solanum pyracanthos

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: Core eudicots
Cladus: Asterids
Cladus: Lamiids
Ordo: Solanales

Familia: Solanaceae
Subfamilia: Solanoideae
Tribus: Solaneae
Genus: Solanum
Subgenus: S. subg. Leptostemonum
Sectio: S. sect. Oliganthes
Species: Solanum pyracanthos
Name

Solanum pyracanthos Lam. (1794)

Solanum pyracanthos, Photo: Michael Lahanas

References

Lamarck, J.-B. 1794: Tableau Encyclopedique et Methodique... Botanique 2: 21.
USDA, ARS, Germplasm Resources Information Network. Solanum pyracanthos in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service. Accessed: 09-Oct-10.
Solanum pyracanthos, also known as the porcupine tomato, is an evergreen shrub native to tropical Madagascar and the islands of the western Indian Ocean. It belongs to the genus Solanum, a diverse and cosmopolitan genus with over 1,500 species including the tomato, potato and nightshades.[2]

The plant contains toxic tropane alkaloids in its leaves, stem and fruit and therefore should be considered dangerous to humans.

Description

S. pyracanthos is perhaps most distinguished by a profusion of strong, straight fluorescent orange thorns which occupy the stems and leaves of the plant, giving it a forbidding appearance. The prickles are consistent throughout the plant, developing clearly from furry trichomes that coat the plant's leaves and stems. Sources give the normal height of the shrub at 1–5 ft (0.30–1.52 m), although ornamental growers have reported taller growth.[3] The plant is not cold resistant, and will die if exposed to temperatures below freezing for more than a week, although plants that die back during the winter may regrow in extended periods of warm weather. The pinnately lobed leaves are 6–21 cm long and the plant blooms year round with clusters of small, star-shaped violet inflorescences, followed by marble-sized greenish-yellow fruit.[4]
Taxonomy

Solanum pyracanthos is found in scientific literature as S. pyracanthum, S. runcinatum, S. pyracantha and S. haematocarpum.[4]
Cultivation

Solanum pyracanthos is grown ornamentally throughout the world. It requires moderate water and sun, a warm climate, and mildly acidic to mildly alkaline soil. The plant is a copious producer of seeds, and should therefore be handled carefully, as new saplings are aggressive growers and immediately produce their large thorns.

Solanum pyracanthos, Phipps Conservatory, 2015-10-01, 01.jpg
Solanum pyracanthon fruit.jpg

References

[1], International Plant Names Index
"Solanum pyracanthos". Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 19 January 2018.
[2], Solanum pyracanthos, Rob's Plants
[3], Solanum pyracanthos, Taxon Concept, Natural History Museum, UK.