Weeds of Australia - Fact Sheet

Top Scientific Name Synonyms Family Common Names Origin Naturalised Distribution Habitat Habit Distinguishing Features Stems and Leaves Flowers and Fruit Reproduction and Dispersal Environmental Impact Other Impacts Legislation Management Similar Species

Scientific Name

Solanum viarum Dunal

Synonyms

Solanum chloranthum DC.; Solanum khasianum var. chatterjeeanum Sen Gupta; Solanum viridiflorum Schltdl.

Family

Solanaceae

Common Names

tropical soda apple

Origin

South America

Naturalised Distribution

Naturalised in north-eastern NSW and south-east Queensland (Coominya, Willowbank and Warwick), mainly in disturbed areas.

Habitat

Disturbed areas and paddocks in a range of habitats.

Habit

An upright much-branched spreading prickly shrub, 0.5-2m high.

Distinguishing Features

• Upright much-branched perennial shrub 0.5-2m high.
• Leaves and stems are armed with prickles up to 12 mm long.
• These prickles have a wide base.
• Leaves are 10-20cm long and 6-15cm wide and covered with short hairs.
• Flowers are white with five recurved petals and cream-coloured stamens.
• Immature fruits are mottled light and dark green like a watermelon.
• Mature fruits are smooth, round, yellow, and 1-3cm in diameter with a leathery skin surrounding a pale green, scented pulp.
• Fruits contain 180 to 240 seeds.

Stems and Leaves

Leaves and stems are armed with prickles up to 12 mm long. The prickles have a wide base. Leaves are 10–20cm long and 6–15cm wide and covered with short hairs.

Flowers and Fruit

The flowers are white with five recurved petals and white to cream-coloured stamens.

Immature fruits are mottled light and dark green like a watermelon. Mature fruits are smooth, round, yellow, and 1-3cm in diameter with a leathery skin surrounding a pale green, scented pulp. Fruits contain 180 to 240 seeds.

Reproduction and Dispersal

This species reproduces by seed, which are mainly spread by cattle and other fruit-eating animals and birds.

Environmental Impact

Potential to invade native open forest

Other Impacts

Potentially invasive of pasture.

Legislation

This species is declared under legislation in the following states and territories:

•  New South Wales: Class 2 - a regionally prohibited weed. The presence of the weed must be notified to the local control authority and it must be eradicated from the land and the land must be kept free of the plant (on Lord Howe Island only), and Class 3  - a regionally controlled weed. The relevant local control authority must be promptly notified of the presence of this weed and it must be fully and continuously suppressed and destroyed (in a large number of local authority areas). See the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries Noxious Weeds List at http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au for more detailed information on which local areas are covered in these declarations.
  

Management

• the Biosecurity Queensland Fact Sheet on this species, which is available online at http://www.daff.qld.gov.au.
• the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries weed alert on this species, which is available online at http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au.
  
  

Similar Species

non-native species: Solanum torvum (Devil´s fig); Solanum chrysotrichum (Giant Devil´s fig); Solanum capsicoides (Devil´s apple); Solanum linnaeanum (Apple of Sodom)

native species: Solanum ditrichum A.R.Bean, which has prickles with a narrow base compared ot S. viarum which has prickles with a broad base. The distributions overlap.