Solanum xanti

Solanum xanti
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Solanales
Family: Solanaceae
Genus: Solanum
Species: S. xanti
Binomial name
Solanum xanti

Solanum xanti, known commonly as chaparral nightshade,[1] purple nightshade, and San Diego nightshade, is a member of the genus Solanum. It is native to the Western United States in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Oregon, and to northwest Mexico in Baja California.[2]

The plant grows in chaparral, oak woodlands, conifer forests, desert Madrean Sky Islands, and other habitats.[3]

Description

Solanum xanti is a perennial herb or subshrub producing a branching hairy stem up to about 90 centimetres (35 in) in maximum height. The leaves are up to 7 centimeters long and are lance-shaped to oval, mostly unlobed except for occasional lobes at the bases of the blades.

It flowers from February to June in the wild, bearing an umbel-shaped inflorescence with many purple-blue flowers up to 3 centimeters wide. The fruit is a green berry 1 to 1.5 centimeters wide.[2]

Varieties

Varieties of the species include:

  • Solanum xanti var. glabrescens — (endemic to California) [4]
  • Solanum xanti var. hoffmannii — Hoffmann's nightshade (endemic to California) [5]
  • Solanum xanti var. intermedium — (endemic to California) [6]
  • Solanum xanti var. montanum [7]
  • Solanum xanti var. obispoense — San Luis Obispo nightshade (endemic to California) [8]
  • Solanum xanti var. xanti [9]

Cultivation

The plant is cultivated as an ornamental plant by specialty plant nurseries for planting in perennial border, drought-tolerant and native plant gardens. It grows from sunny locations to dry shade, such as under native oaks.[10][11][12]

The plant is deer resistant, due to its poisonous qualities.

Selections

Cultivars and varieties available include:

  • Solanum xanti var. hoffmannii — Hoffmann's nightshade (long bloom period) [13]
  • Solanum xanti 'Mountain Pride' — Mountain Pride purple nightshade (large dark purple flowers) [14]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Solanum xanti". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
  2. 1 2 Jepson . accessed 1.27.2013
  3. ↑ Calflora database: Solanum xanti . accessed 1.27.2013
  4. ↑ USDA Plants profile: Solanum xanti var. glabrescens
  5. ↑ USDA Plants profile: Solanum xanti var. glabrescens
  6. ↑ USDA Plants profile: Solanum xanti var. intermedium
  7. ↑ USDA Plants profile: Solanum xanti var. montanum
  8. ↑ USDA Plants profile: Solanum xanti var. obispoense
  9. ↑ USDA Plants profile: Solanum xanti var. xanti
  10. ↑ CNPLX—California Native Plant Link Exchange: Solanum xanti — Nursery and Seed Sources . accessed 1.27.2013
  11. ↑ Las Pilitas Nursery: Solanum xanti — horticulture . accessed 1.27.2013
  12. ↑ San Marcos Growers: Solanum xanti . accessed 1.27.2013
  13. ↑ Las Pilitas Nursery: Solanum xanti hoffmannii
  14. ↑ San Marcos Growers: Solanum xanti 'Mountain Pride'

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