Solanum linnaeanum
Hepper & P.Jaeger Apple of SodomShrub to 1 m high, dark green, pubescent with stellate hairs and some glandular hairs; prickles to 15 mm long, yellowish, straight, abundant on most parts of plant. Leaves elliptic, mostly 4–8 cm long, 3–6 cm wide, deeply lobed, concolorous, upper surface sparsely pubescent, lower surface more densely pubescent; lobes rounded to more or less triangular, margins sinuate or further lobed; petiole 1–2 cm long. Inflorescences simple, 3–6-flowered; peduncle short or absent. Flowers on pedicels 10–15 mm long; calyx 7–8 mm long, somewhat accrescent in fruit, lobes lanceolate, 2–4 mm long; corolla rotate-stellate to pentagonal, 15–20 mm diam., pale purple-blue, lobes shortly acute-tipped; anthers 4.5–6 mm long. Berry globose, 20–35 mm diam., yellow, finally brown or black; seeds 2–3 mm long, light brown or yellowish. Flowers throughout the year.
GleP, Brid, VVP, GipP, OtP, WaP, CVU, EGL, HSF. Also naturalised WA, SA, Qld, NSW. Native to the Mediterranean region and South Africa. Naturalised in New Zealand and other countries. Scattered across southern Victoria between Portland and Bairnsdale, usually in disturbed areas such as roadsides and unmaintained pasture.
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
