Solanum stenophyllum Dunal, 1816

Knapp, Sandra, 2013, A revision of the Dulcamaroid Clade of Solanum L. (Solanaceae), PhytoKeys 22, pp. 1-432 : 248-254

38. Solanum stenophyllum Dunal , Solan. Syn. 15. 1816 Figure 93

Solanum bogotense Dunal, Prodr. [A.P. de Candolle] 13(1): 121. 1852. Type: Colombia. Cundinamarca: Bogotá, 1846, J. Goudot s.n. (holotype: G-DC [G00145407, F neg. 6789]; isotypes: F [F-679074, frag.], P [P00324773], W [W-0003065]).

Solanum tolimense Wedd., Chlor. And. 2: 106. 1859. Type: Colombia. Tolima: páramo de Tolima, 3900 m, J.J. Linden 957 (holotype: P [P00371702, Morton neg. 8356]; isotypes: BM [BM000815927], BR, G [Morton neg. 8561], NY [NY00172212], W [W-1889-291731, W-003067]).

Solanum neriifolium Bitter, Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 11: 482. 1913. Type: Ecuador. Pichincha: in the western declivity of Pichincha, 13,000 ft., Jul 1863, W. Jameson s.n. (lectotype, designated by Knapp 1989, pg. 87: W [W-1889-223028]; isolectotype: US [US-3168293]).

Type.

Peru. "andiniis Peruviae", Humboldt & Bonpland s.n. (holotype: P-Bonpl. [P00136326, F neg. 39014]; isotype: F [F-976718, frag.]).

Description.

Shrubs or small trees, 1-6 m tall. Stems and leaves densely pubescent with golden yellow tree-like trichomes; leaf scars prominently raised, the stem strongly winged between the nodes; new growth densely pubescent with golden-yellow dendritic and tree-like trichomes. Bark of older stems dark brown, somewhat pubescent. Sympodial units plurifoliate, branching usually dichasial, sometimes monochasial. Leaves simple, 5-9 cm long, 1.1-3 cm wide, narrowly elliptic, the upper surfaces drying black, shiny, sparsely puberulent along the veins with golden dendritic or tree-like trichomes, the lower surfaces densely pubescent with short, matted, golden dendritic and tree-like trichomes, the mesophyll usually not visible, these drying golden, occasional sparser or rarely completely absent; primary veins ca. 11 pairs, these impressed above; base attenuate, winged onto the petiole and then onto the stem; margins entire; apex acute or rounded; petiole 2-5 mm long, strongly winged on to the stem and not clearly differentiated from the leaf base. Inflorescences terminal, sometimes appearing lateral from shoot overtopping, often in the fork of the new branches, 2.5-4 cm long, branching 5-7 times, with 8-10 flowers, pyramidal, the axis densely pubescent with golden dendritic and tree-like trichomes; peduncle 1-2 cm long; pedicels 0.6-1.2 cm long, tapering from a basal diameter of 0.5 mm to an apical diameter of ca. 1 mm, nodding at anthesis, densely pubescent with matted, golden dendritic and tree-like trichomes, articulated at the base and inserted in a sleeve ca. 1 mm long; pedicel scars closely spaced and clustered near the inflorescence branch tips. Buds ellipsoid, the corolla strongly exserted from the calyx tube. Flowers all perfect, 4-5-merous. Calyx tube 2-5 mm long, conical, the lobes 1.5-3 mm long, deltate to long-triangular, densely pubescent abaxially with matted dendritic and tree-like trichomes, densely pubescent adaxially with golden dendritic trichomes. Corolla 2-2.4 cm in diameter, violet or occasionally white (Ecuador), lobed 1/2 to 3/4 of the way to the base, the lobes 8-14 mm long, 7-9 mm wide, planar at anthesis, densely pubescent abaxially with golden dendritic trichomes, these denser at the tips of the lobes, adaxially glabrous. Filament tube less than 0.5 mm long; free portion of the filaments 1.5-2 mm long, glabrous; anthers 3.5-4 mm long, 1-1.5 mm wide, loosely connivent, poricidal at the tips, the pores becoming slit-like with age. Ovary globose, glabrous; style 7-9 mm long, glabrous or finely pubescent near the base in a few Ecuadorian specimens; stigma bilobed, the surface minutely papillose. Fruit a globose berry, 1-1.4 cm in diameter, purplish black with thin pericarp; fruiting pedicels 0.8-1.2 cm long, woody, deflexed or nodding. Seeds ca. 15 per fruit, ca. 3 mm long, ca. 3 mm wide, reddish-brown, flattened lenticular or roundish in outline, the surfaces minutely pitted. Chromosome number: not known.

Distribution

( Figure 94 ). Andes from northern Colombia to southern Ecuador and northern Peru, from 2500-3300 m.

Ecology.

Páramo, subáramo and cloud forest.

Common names.

Ecuador: pugyán ( Knapp 1989).

Conservation status.

Least Concern (LC); EOO>100,000 km2 (LC) and AOO>10,000 km2 (LC). See Moat (2007) for explanation of measurements.

Discussion.

Solanum stenophyllum is one of the most easily recognised members of the Solanum nitidum species group, with its strongly discolorous leaves that are bright yellow beneath. It is most closely related to Solanum cutervanum and Solanum ruizii (as assessed by morphological cladistics, see Knapp 1989), differing from those species in its winged stems and glabrous styles. In N central Ecuador, near Quito, populations of Solanum stenophyllum often have white flowers and occasionally pubescent styles. The leaf pubescence of these plants also appears a brighter shade of yellow when dry than that of other populations. This geographical variant has been called Solanum neriifolium . These plants are otherwise identical to the rest of the species range, so these populations are not accorded species status. A few collections of Solanum stenophyllum are nearly glabrous and superficially similar to Solanum imbaburense and Solanum coalitum . Plants of Solanum stenophyllum , however, always have at least some tree-like trichomes with very congested branches and appear to be rare regional variants. Solanum coalitum is completely glabrous and has swollen calyces, but occurs within the distribution of some of the more glabrous spopulations of Solanum stenophyllum . Specimens of Solanum stenophyllum , however, always have at least some dendritic and tree-like trichomes on the inflorescence axis or new growth, distinguishing them from the completely glabrous Solanum coalitum .

The type locality of Solanum stenophyllum cited by Dunal in his original description of the species was "andiniis Peruviae". Kunth, in his compilation of Humboldt and Bonpland’s collections give the locality as "prope Olleros et Yanta" (in present day Dept. Piura, Peru). Kunth, however, never saw a specimen of this plant, and the type in the Bonpland herbarium at P has three labels attached, the lower two of which give the collection locality as "prope Cuenca", in present day Ecuador. The plant is a good match for populations around Cuenca, and it is probable that Kunth’s locality citation is in error.

Specimens examined.

Colombia. Antioquia: El Anillo, 3000 m, Feb 1852, Triana 3855-1 (BM); Boyacá: Alto de las Cruces, páramos al NW de Belen, vereda San Jose de la Montaña, Alto de las Cruces y alrededores, 3720 m, 3 May 1973, Cleef 9708 (K); Nevado de Cocuy, Valle de la Cueva, 3700 m, 10 Sep 1938, Cuatrecasas 1307 (F); Valle de El Cocuy, La Cueva, Chinchilla, 3800 m, 17 Sep 1969, Cuatrecasas & Rodríguez 27821 (F); Caldas: El Aprisco, Cordillera Central, vertiente occidental, vert. sudoeste del Ruiz, 3500 m, 5 May 1940, Cuatrecasas 9317 (F); Cordillera Central, vertiente occidental, cabeceras del Río Otun, entre la Laguna del Mosquito y Plan del Villar, 3650 m, 26 Nov 1946, Cuatrecasas 23251 (F); Cauca: Páramo de las Papas, 3100 m, Jan 1947, Antonio C. 48 (F); Laguna de San Rafael, Cordillera Central, filo de la Cordillera al N de Volcán Puracé, 3350 m, 29 Jan 1947, Cuatrecasas 23452 (F); Cundinamarca: Páramo de Sumapaz, Chisacá, cabeceras de Río S. Rosa, 3500 m, 11 Dec 1971, Cleef 212 (K); Páramo de Chisacá, 28 Jun 1967, Martin & Plowman 64 (ECON, K); Páramo de Chisacá, southeast of Bogotá, 4000 m, Jul 1953, Schultes 20151 (GH, K); Nariño: Pasto, Páramo de las Delicias, near Popayán, 3000 m, 28 Nov 1896, Lehmann 8686 (F, F, GH, K); Túquerres, Volcán Azufral, eastern slopes, ca. 9-13 km W of Tuquerres, 3500 m, 12 May 1989, Luteyn et al. 12828 (K); Santander: Laguna de Cunta, edge of páramo de Santurbán, 21 Jan 1927, Killip & Smith 17969 (A, GH); Tolima: Páramo del Ruiz, 16 Dec 1917, Pennell 3082 (GH, US); Páramo del Ruiz, Jul 1846, Purdie s.n. (K); Valle del Cauca: Quebrada de las Vegas, cabeceras del Río Tuluá, Cordillera central, vertiente occidental, 3400 m, 21 Mar 1946, Cuatrecasas 20339 (F); Páramo Pan de Azúcar, 3300 m, 23 Aug 1968, Espinal T. & Ramos 2434 (F).

Ecuador. Azuay: Páramos de Soldán, Nudo de Cordillera Occidental y Cordillera Oriental, 3350 m, 30 Jul 1959, Barclay & Juajibioy 8386 (MO); Cumbe, 3300 m, 22 Apr 1968, Harling et al. 8586 (MO); Carchi: El Frailejón, Cordillera Oriental, 3500 m, 11 Aug 1949, Acosta Solís 13223 (F); Road between Tulcan and Maldonado. Espeletia paramo S of Volcán Chiles, 3800 m, 12 Mar 1985, Eriksen 59019 (BM); between Tulcan and El Angel, Nov 1952, Fagerlind & Wibom 1500b (S); Cantón Tulcán, Tulcán, road to El Angel, 3300 m, 6 Feb 1959, Harling 4249 (S); El Frailejón, on road Tulcán-El Carmelo (El Pun), 3300 m, 6 Mar 1974, Harling & Andersson 12534 (MO); Páramo del Ángel, laguna sur de El Voladero, 3750 m, 19 Jan 1983, Ména V. 80 (MO); Cantón Tulcán, frontera con Colombia, faldas del volcán Chiles, 3900 m, Nov 1993, Palacios 11873 (BM); San Gabriel-Chutan Alto road, above Chutan Alto, 3500 m, 23 Mar 1989, Pedersen 95 (AAU); Nudo de Boliche, Voladero, 15 Jun 1939, Penland & Summers 914 (F, GH); Páramo del Ángel, laguna oriente del Volador, 3700 m, 26 Jan 1967, Sparre 14163 (S); Imbabura: Laguna Mojanda, at the southern part of Laguna Negra, 3700 m, 29 Jun 1983, Brandbyge 42201 (BM); Otavalo-Lagunas de Mojanda, 3550 m, 23 May 1987, Jørgensen 61778 (BM); Loja: road from Loja to La Tuna, km 14-34, 1600 m, 21 Nov 1961, Dodson & Thien 1504 (MO); Loja-Saraguro, km 18, 2610 m, 21 Apr 1994, Jørgensen et al. 477 (BM); Cerro Uritusinga, Loja-La Palma, Km 18-20, 2910 m, 30 Nov 1994, Jørgensen et al. 1068 (BM); Parque Nacional Podocarpus, trail Cajanuma-Laguna de Compadre, páramo around the first pond, half way to Laguna de Compadres, 3200 m, 26 Dec 1988, Jørgensen et al. 65663 (AAU); road Loja-Las Achira (Uritusinga), km 9 from Universidad Nacional de Loja, 2800 m, 20 May 2001, Madsen et al. 8040 (AAU); road Amaluza-Zumba (in construction), ca. km 35, 3400 m, 13 Aug 2001, Madsen et al. 8323 (AAU); road Universidad Nacional de Loja-Las Achira (Uritusinga), km 10, 2800 m, 25 Oct 2001, Madsen & Chimbo 8606 (AAU); Napo: Los Corrales, near Papallacta, 3900 m, 21 Jul 1960, Grubb et al. 215 (K); Laguna San Marcos, on the NE slope of Volcán Cayambe, 3600 m, 21 May 1980, Holm-Nielsen & Balslev 23703 (K); Cordillera de los Llanganates, lower slope of Cerro Crista del Gallo, NW side of Laguna Encantada, 3550 m, 17 Mar 1983, Holm-Nielsen et al. 41969 (BM); Cayambe, at the Mayorasgo, 4390 m, 1827, Jameson s.n. (K); Napo/Pichincha border, páramo de Guamani, small peak c. 6 km S of Paso de la Virgen, 4100 m, 28 Nov 1985, Laegaard 55710 (AAU); Cocha Seca, carretera Julio Andrade-Playon de San Francisco, 3100 m, 27 Dec 1986, Zak 1563 (F); páramo de la Virgen, carretera Quito-Papallacta-Baeza, 3900 m, 21 Jun 1987, Zak 2081 (F); Volcán Cayambe, N slopes, road to the antenna, 3750 m, 9 Jul 1980, Øllgaard et al. 34231 (K); Pichincha: Chaparro de Sebritana, Sec. Oriental de las Hcdas Pedregal y Yanurcu, 3400 m, 7 Jul 1944, Acosta Solís 8301 (F); SW-slopes of Volcán Atacazo, 3700 m, 28 Oct 1984, Brandbyge 42819 (BM); Quito-Baeza, near the pass at Papallacta, 3700 m, 30 Oct 1983, Eriksen & Larsen 45389 (BM); N-NW side of Pichincha, 3600 m, Fagerlind & Wibom s.n. (S); Volcán Iliniza, NE slope below the refugio, 4000 m, 13 Aug 1980, Holm-Nielsen et al. 25017 (F, K); Volcán Atacazo, SW slope, km 19 from San Juan, 2900 m, 25 Aug 1980, Holm-Nielsen & Asanza 25149 (K); Volcán Pichincha, western slopes of Pichincha, Jameson s.n. (GH); Volcán Pichincha, western declivity, 3658 m, Jameson 48 (K); carretera Cayambe-Olmedo-Laguna San Marcos-Cerro el Mirador, 3700 m, 1 Jan 1988, Jaramillo 10116 (AAU); Cantón Quito, Quito, Karsten s.n. (LE); Quito-Baeza road, between La Virgen (4000 m) and Papallacta (3000 m), 3850 m, Sep 1985, Priest 263 (K); Laguna de las Hoyas, Paramo de Guarami, 4050 m, 9 Aug 1987, Ramsay et al. 230 (K); carretera Quito-Guantopugro-Yanacocha, 3400 m, 22 Mar 1987, Zak 1846 (F); carretera Quito-Nono-Tandayapa, desviación a Yanacocha en al localidad Guanto-pugro, hacienda Alto Peru, estribaciones NO del Volcán Pichincha, 3200 m, 17 Nov 1987, Zak & Jaramillo 2969 (F, K); Cantón Quito, Parroquia de Tumbaco, area de influencia de la Reserva Ecológica Antisana, Cooperativa Inga Alto Monserrat, 2750 m, 9 Mar 1994, Ávarez & Columba 1407 (BM); Tungurahua: Quebrada Huarcusacha, 3800 m, 27 Jan 1983, Brandbyge 42041 (BM); Cantón Baños, Cordillera de los Llanganates, crater lake in pass between Río Muyu and Río Topo, 8 km NW of Cerro Hermoso, 4100 m, 8 Nov 1980, Holm-Nielsen & Jaramillo 28080 (K); Cantón Baños, Cordillera de los Llanganates, loma 3 km SW of Cerro Hermoso, 3700 m, 12 Nov 1980, Holm-Nielsen & Jaramillo 28691 (K); Cantón Píllaro, Santiago de Pillaro, Parque Nacional Llanganates, base of Cerro Hermoso on western side, 3850 m, 14 Nov 1999, Neill et al. 12176 (BM); above El Triunfo, páramo El Llanganates, 3700 m, 29 Mar 1989, Pedersen 42 (AAU); Cantón Patate, Cordillera Los Llanganates, a 12 km del Triunfo, 3100 m, 3 Mar 1995, Vargas & Sandoval 317 (BM).

Peru. Cajamarca: Celendín, Sorochuco, subiendo a Michiquillay, 3400 m, 9 Sep 2001, Sánchez Vega et al. 10957 (BM); Piura: Huancabamba, Juzgara, 2900 m, 21 Jan 1994, Llatas Quiroz 3415 (BM).

Figures

Figure 93. Solanum stenophyllum Dunal. (A-B drawn from Pennell 3082). Reproduced from Knapp (1989) with permission of the Natural History Museum Botany Library. Illustration by Margaret Tebbs.

Figure 94. Distribution of Solanum stenophyllum Dunal.