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Solanum sp.
Shrub approximately up to 2m tall. Purple flowers (3-5 cm in diameter) with 5 yellow anthers arranged centrally in a cone, the style protruding from the middle of it. Leaves covered with short, silvery hairs; elongated, approx. 10-20cm in length. Fruits a small berry turning orange when mature and held erect; they remain attached to the plant after they dry out.
On empty lots, waste ground, and other open habitats. Dry ground.
Very common in and near Tehuacan, Puebla, Mexico. Thrives in empty lots around the city. Flowering abundantly in December and January. Fruits are also present.
2 meters! That's most definitely not usual growth for S. elaeagnifolium. The tallest I've seen it get is almost a foot, and I agree that what we have here is probably something else. I know very little about plants to help out, unfortunately. Good luck with ID Mario!
Thanks! I agree with you that is very similar to S. elaeagnifolium, but I think this may be a different species as it grows up to 2 m tall and the leaves and flowers are different too. I have been looking for an ID for this plant for a while, and although its very common around Tehuacan, I haven´t managed to find one. Any further suggestions are most welcome!
Resembles in many aspects a plant growing exactly as you've mentioned -- S. elaeagnifolium. What seems different though is the shape of the leaves; yours look almost completely oval, while the ones growing here are very wavy. And that little tomato-looking fruit turns yellow to ochre and then finally black in this species, so I'll let you decide. It's a beautiful capture, by the way!
Spotted on Dec 31, 2011
Submitted on Dec 31, 2011
