The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Solanum opacum

Etymology

Solanum: Derivation uncertain - possibly from the Latin word sol, meaning "sun," referring to its status as a plant of the sun. Another possibility is that the root was solare, meaning "to soothe," or solamen, meaning "a comfort," which would refer to the soothing effects of the plant upon ingestion.

Common Name(s)

Green berry nightshade

Current Conservation Status

2018 - Data Deficient

Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2012 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2009 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Authors: Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, Paul D. Champion, Shannel P. Courtney, Peter B. Heenan, John W. Barkla, Ewen K. Cameron, David A. Norton and Rodney A. Hitchmough. File size: 792KB

Authority

Solanum opacum A.Braun et C.D.Bouché

Family

Solanaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Herbs other than Composites

Distribution

New Zealand: Kermadec and North Island - probably elsewhere. A widespread species in the Pacific Basin and Australasia,

Habitat

A species of coastal and lowland, often early stage successional habitats. Also found in wasteland and urban areas growing with S. nigrum and S. americanum.

Features

Annual or short-lived perennial herb, forming spindly plants or densely branched bushes up to 1 m tall, all parts either glabrous or silky hairy. Stems unarmed or weakly armed. Leaves on petioles (10-)20-60 mm long; lamina variable, 10-50(-80) x 8-40(-76) mm, green, yellow-green, dark-green, often blotched or tinged maroon, sometimes purple-green; ovate, ovate-oblong, lanceolate-ovate, entire, sinnuate or coarsely toothed (sometimes distantly so), rarely lobulate, base attenuate to broadly attenuate, sometimes narrowly winged; apex acute. Inflorescences, umbellate, (3-)5-6(-10)-flowered, peduncles stout, 10-20 mm long, pedicels deflexed (strongly so at fruiting). Calyx 2-3 mm diameter at anthesis, accrescent; lobes broadly ovate to oblong, usually strongly reflexed at fruiting (sometimes with mixtures of mostly reflexed, and some weakly accrescent). Corolla 5-8 mm diameter, stellate, white or pale mauve, lobes narrowly lanceolate to narrowly deltoid. Anthers 1.0-1.5 mm. Berry up to 10 mm diameter, globose, green, purple-black or black, dull (not glossy); stone cells present. Seeds 1.0-2.5 mm diameter, obovate to broadly obovate or circular, compressed, orange-yellow to pale tan, glossy or not.

Similar Taxa

Distinguished from Solanum nigrum by the umbellate inflorescences, smaller stamens (1.0-1.5 mm long vs 2 mm or more in length), smaller flowers with a stellate corolla, mostly reflexed, sometimes weakly accrescent calyx lobes, and dull purple-black to greenish-black fruits. Solanum nigrum has consistently accrescent calyx lobes, glossy purple black (in New Zealand plants) fruits, larger stamens,and larger flowers without a stellate corolla. Solanum opacum differs from S. americanum by having much broader, larger reflexed to weakly accrescent calyx lobes - the calyx lobes of S. americanum are always reflexed, smaller and much narrower. All three species are genetically distinct from and do not hybridize with each other.

Flowering

Throughout the year

Flower Colours

White

Fruiting

Throughout the year

Propagation Technique

Easily grown from fresh seed. However, like all members of the S. nigrum group, inclined to be weedy

Threats

Probably 'Not Threatened' but as the presence of this species in New Zealand has only recently (2017) been recognized (specimens of this species have previously been confused with S. americanum and S. nigrum) as a precautionary measure it would be appropriate to treat S. opacum as 'Data Deficient' until more information becomes available. Indications are that it is likely to be widespread, at least in northern New Zealand, and it is present on the Kermadec Islands. This interim threat assessment will need to be ratified by the New Zealand indigenous vascular plant threat listing panel.

Endemic Taxon

No

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

This page last updated on 2 Nov 2018