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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
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habit (photo: Biosecurity Queensland)

flower (photo: Biosecurity Queensland)

fruit and spines (photo: Biosecurity Queensland)

seeds (photo: Biosecurity Queensland)

Solanum viarum

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

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:

Management

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.