Solanum fecundum A.R.Bean, 2012

Bean, A. R., 2012, A taxonomic revision of the Solanum echinatum group (Solanaceae), Phytotaxa 57 (1), pp. 33-50 : 36-39

Solanum fecundum A.R.Bean , sp. nov. ( Fig. 1 )

S. echinato affinis sed inflorescentiis 6–11-floris, pilis stellatis minoribus stipitibus haud plus quam 0.25 mm longitudine, aculeis longioribus in ramulis et calycibus fructiferis, et pericarpio tenuiore differens.

Type: — AUSTRALIA. Western Australia: Mining track off Palms Yard–Bungle Bungle road, 15 May 1984, E.A. Chesterfield 228, S.J. Forbes & J.H. Willis (holotype MEL !; isotype CANB! ).

[ Solanum lucani auct. non F.Muell .: Symon (1981)]

Illustration: Symon (1981: 200), as S. lucani .

Prostrate shrub 0.1–0.3 m high. Adult branchlets white, grey or yellow; prickles 200–400 per decimetre, straight, acicular, 2–8 mm long, 10–13 times longer than wide, glabrous or with scattered stellate hairs near base; stellate hairs very dense, 0.4–0.6 mm in diameter, the stalks 0–0.2 mm long, the central ray 0.8–1.2 times as long as laterals. Adult leaves simple, the blades ovate, 5.4–13.3 cm long, 1.9–6.5 cm wide, 1.7–2.8 times longer than broad. Upper surface green or grey-green, prickles absent or present; stellate hairs moderate density to dense, spaced 0.15–0.5 mm apart, 0.4–0.5 mm across, the stalks 0–0.1 mm long, the central ray 0.8–1.2 times as long as laterals. Lower surface white or grey, prickles absent or present; stellate hairs very dense, spaced ca. 0.05 mm apart, 0.5–0.7 mm diameter, the stalks 0–0.15 mm long, the central ray 0.8–1.2 times as long as laterals; entire or shallowly lobed with 3 or 4 obtuse lobes on each side, the base obtuse or auriculate, the oblique part 4–13 mm long, obliqueness index 6–15 percent, the apex acute; petioles 1.5–5.2 cm long, 24–49 % length of lamina, prickles present. Inflorescence 6–11-flowered, with common peduncle 22–58 mm long, rachis prickles present; pedicels at anthesis 4–6 mm long, prickles present; calyx tube 3–4 mm long, the lobes deltate, 1–2 mm long; calyx prickles present at anthesis, 60–80 per flower, 0.5–6.5 mm long; calyx stellae very dense, yellow or white, 0.35–0.5 mm across, the stalks 0–0.1 mm long, the central ray 0.8–1.2 times as long as laterals. Corolla purple, 12–16 mm long, the inner surface glabrous; anthers 3.7–5.7 mm long; free part of the filaments 2–2.5 mm long; style 9.5–10.5 mm long, strongly bent near base, eccentric, glabrous. Fruiting calyx almost closed at the apex rendering fruit almost invisible; stellate hairs all about the same size, stalks 0–0.25 mm long, proto-prickles absent; prickles 90–120, 2– 10 mm long, straight, glabrous or with stellae attached near their base; pedicels 9–18 mm long. Mature fruits 3–7 per inflorescence, oblate or globular, ca. 14 mm diameter, interior moist but not juicy, the pericarp 0.7–1 mm thick; placenta stalked, anvil-shaped. Seeds 1.8–1.9 mm long.

Distribution and habitat: — Solanum fecundum is widely distributed from the Kimberley region of Western Australia to the extreme north-west of Queensland ( Map 2 ). It inhabits rocky areas with spinifex, sandstone cliff-bases and scree slopes, creek-banks in riparian forest, Grevillea wickhamii -dominated shrubland and limestone ridges with skeletal soil.

Phenology: —Flowers and fruits have been recorded from March to September.

Etymology: —From the Latin fecundus meaning fruitful, abundant, prolific. This is a reference to the greater number of flowers and fruits borne by this species compared to other species in the group.

Additional specimens examined (paratypes): — AUSTRALIA. Western Australia: Blina Station , 28 April 1982, T.E. Aplin 5052 ( MEL); Tunnel Creek, Napier Range, 8 April 1988, C.R. Dunlop & B.K. Simon 7744 ( BRI, CANB, DNA); Osmond Creek , 4 km W of junction with Buchanan Creek , 8 May 1999, D.J. Edinger 1430 ( BRI); Wulwuldji, near Samim mining camp, 19 km due east of Osmund Valley Palms yard, 4 July 1984, S.J. Forbes 2523 ( MEL); 51.2 km SE from Turkey Creek on track to Bungle Bungle outcamp, 4 July 1984, K.F. Kenneally 9189 ( PERTH); Mabel Downs road to Bungle Bungle National Park , 23 April 2001, K.R. McDonald KRM894 ( BRI, CANB); 6 km NE of Mary River, 104 km SW of Halls Creek, on Great Northern Highway , 24 June 2004, R.A. McKenzie RAM04/218 ( BRI); Walanginjdji , 4.5 km SSW of Bungle Bungle outcamp, 10 July 1984, N.H. Scarlett 84-335 ( MEL); Cathedral Gorge , Bungle Bungle N.P., 8 April 1993, I. Solomon 693 ( PERTH); Winnama Spring , ca. 17.5 km S of Turkey Creek, 14 May 1984, J.H. Willis s.n. ( MEL); Spillway Creek, downstream from Lake Argyle tourist village, 7 July 1974, J.H. Willis s.n. ( MEL). Northern Territory: 0.5 km NW of Jasper Gorge camping area, SE of Timber Creek , 8 June 2005, A.R. Bean 24125 ( BRI, UT); Timber Creek, 10 March 1989, J. Brock 660 & J. Russell-Smith ( BRI, DNA); Gregory National Park, 23 March 1992, P.S. Brocklehurst 340 & P. Rampant (DNA); Katherine Gorge National Park , 5 May 1968, N. Byrnes 678 (DNA); 29.9 miles [48.1 km] SW of Willaroo Homestead, 9 May 1960, G.M. Chippendale 6843 ( MEL); Pinkerton Range, 5 March 1989, C.R. Dunlop 8131 & G.J. Leach (DNA); Bed of Victoria River , July 1967, C.H. Gittins 1356 ( BRI); Victoria River, near Wayside Inn Caravan Park , 9 September 1982, N.F. Norris 860 ( MEL); Victoria River , 34 miles [55 km] NE of Auvergne Station, 11 August 1949, R.A. Perry & M. Lazarides 2686 ( MEL); Old Victoria River crossing, 28 May 1978, M.O. Rankin 1312 (DNA, CANB, MEL). Queensland: bank of Nicholson River near Kingfisher Camp , 12 April 1996, J. Milson JM1108 ( BRI); ca. 24 km from Burketown on Doomadgee road, 12 July 1974, P. Ollerenshaw 1354 & D. Kratzing ( BRI, CANB).

Notes: — Solanum fecundum is a distinctive species in the group. It has consistently smaller stellate hairs than S. echinatum and S. lucani , and the indumentum is not floccose, because the stalks of the stellate hairs are all quite short. The fruits are almost globose (based on the few spirit collections I have seen), whereas all other species in the group appear to have markedly oblate fruits. The prickles of S. fecundum are longer than in most other species of the group, and its inflorescences bear more (6–11) flowers. The white undersides of the leaves, caused by the very dense covering of stellate hairs, is characteristic of the species.

This species was called S. lucani by Symon (1981) and all subsequent authors have followed this.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Solanum fecundum. Photograph of the holotype.

MAP 2. Distribution of Solanum fecundum (circles); Solanum lapidosum (triangles).