Solanum laciniatum
Aiton Large Kangaroo-appleErect shrub to 3 m high, green, often with purplish stems, glabrous except for minute glandular hairs on young growth; prickles absent. Leaves lobed or entire, apex acuminate, base attenuate, concolorous, usually glabrous; lobed leaves broad-ovate, 9–38 cm long; lobes deep, 2–13 cm long, 0.3–2 cm wide; petiole 1–4 cm long; entire leaves lanceolate, 5–20 cm long, 1–4 cm wide; petiole 0.5–1 cm long. Inflorescences simple or forked at base, to 10-flowered; primary peduncle 0–4 cm long. Flowers on pedicels 1.5–3 cm long; calyx 4–6 mm long, lobes triangular, 2–3 mm long, enlarging slightly in fruit; corolla rotate, 30–50 mm diam., deep purplish-blue, lobes notched; anthers 3–4 mm long. Berry ovoid to ellipsoid, 15–20 mm diam., yellow to orange-yellow; seeds 2–2.5 mm long, reddish-brown; stone-cell granules mostly 2–2.5 mm long Flowers mostly spring and summer.
LoM, Wim, GleP, Brid, VVP, VRiv, MuF, GipP, OtP, WaP, Gold, CVU, GGr, DunT, NIS, EGL, EGU, HSF, HNF, OtR, Strz, HFE, VAlp. Also WA (introduced), SA, NSW, Tas. New Zealand. A widespread species, often of rocky sites and disturbed areas.
Occasionally cultivated as a source of solasodine for cortisone and other steroid drugs.
Jeanes, J.A. (1999). Solanaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 4, Cornaceae to Asteraceae, pp. 332–365. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
Spinning
