Solanum amygdalifolium Steud., 1841

Knapp, Sandra, 2013, A revision of the Dulcamaroid Clade of Solanum L. (Solanaceae), PhytoKeys 22, pp. 1-432 : 51-57

4. Solanum amygdalifolium Steud. , Nomencl. Bot. ed. 2, 2: 600. 1841 Figure 14

Solanum persicifolium Mart., Flora 21, Beibl. 2: 78. 1838, as " persicaeifolium ", non Solanum persicifolium Dunal, 1813. Type: Brazil. Rio de Janeiro: São Christovão near Sebastianopolis, C. Martius 255 (lectotype, designated here: M [M0171803]; isolectotypes: BR, LE, K [K000196335]).

Solanum angustifolium Lam., Tabl. Encycl. 2: 18. 1794, non Solanum angustifolium Mill., 1768. Type: Argentina. Buenos Aires: Buenos Aires, P. Commerson s.n. (holotype: P-LA [P00357623, Morton neg. 8363]; isotypes: G [G00070233, G00070234], P [Morton neg. 8143], P).

Solanum angustifolium Lam. var. macrophyllum Dunal, Prodr. [A.P. de Candolle] 13(1): 90. 1852. Type: Brazil. Bahia: sin. loc. [possibly Rio de Janeiro], J. Guillot s.n. (holotype: P [P00319635, Morton neg. 8144]).

Solanum brittonianum Morong, Ann. New York Acad. Sci. 7: 174. 1893. Type: Paraguay. Pilcomayo River, 10 Jan 1888-1890, T. Morong 1531 (holotype: NY [NY00139076]; isotypes: MO [MO-1787131], NDG, US [US-1324465], WIS).

Solanum handelianum Morong, Ann. New York Acad. Sci. 7: 175. 1893. Type: Based on Solanum angustifolium Lam., non Solanum angustifolium Mill., 1768.

Type.

Based on Solanum persicifolium Mart., non Solanum persicifolium Dunal, 1813.

Description.

Woody vine to 5+ m long, scrambling in low vegetation, semi-aquatic and along water courses. Stems strongly ridged with 4 whitish green wings along the entire length, completely glabrous; new growth minutely papillose, occasionally pubescent with tangled simple uniseriate trichomes, these soon deciduous. Bark of older stems green to pale yellowish green, the bark not markedly exfoliating. Sympodial units plurifoliate, not geminate. Leaves simple, 2-6 cm long, 0.5-2 cm wide, lanceolate to linear (very occasionally with a few shallow lobes, but these lobed leaves always accompanied by simple ones on the same stem), somewhat fleshy to chartaceous, glabrous on both surfaces; primary veins 4-6 pairs, not prominent on either surface; base attenuate; margins entire, not markedly revolute; apex tapering to acute, the ultimate tip rounded; petiole 0.1-0.5 cm long, glabrous or occasionally with a few scattered simple trichomes adaxially, twining to aid climbing. Inflorescences terminal, becoming lateral and sometimes leaf-opposed, 4-13 cm long, usually 4-5 times branched, with 8-15 flowers, glabrous except for a few weak simple uniseriate trichomes at the tips of the branches; peduncle 0.5-2.5 cm long, occasionally absent and the branching beginning at the base of the inflorescence; pedicels 1-1.5 cm long, ca. 1 mm in diameter at the base and apex, slender, spreading at anthesis, glabrous, articulated at the base from a small sleeve and leaving a peg to 1.5 mm high on the inflorescence axis; pedicel scars widely spaced 3-10 mm apart. Buds ellipsoid, the corolla ca. 3/4 exserted from the calyx tube before anthesis. Flowers all perfect, 5-merous. Calyx tube 1.5-3 mm long, conical, the lobes 1-1.5 mm long, deltate to broadly semi-circular, glabrous, the tips papillate. Corolla 2.5-4 cm in diameter, violet, rotate-stellate, lobed ca. 1/2 of the way to the base, the lobes 8-10 mm long, 8-9 mm wide, planar to spreading at anthesis, abaxially densely pubescent with minute simple uniseriate trichomes ca. 0.2 mm long, adaxially glabrous with a few simple trichomes along the midvein. Filament tube minute, the free portion of the filaments ca. 1 mm long, densely pubescent with tangled weak simple uniseriate trichomes to ca. 0.5 mm adaxially so the ovary obscured; anthers 5-6 mm long, 1-1.5 mm wide, ellipsoid, loosely connivent, yellow, poricidal at the tips, the pores usually lengthening to slits with age. Ovary glabrous; style 11-15 mm long, sparsely pubescent in the lower 1/3 to 1/2; stigma clavate, the surface minutely papillate. Fruit a globose to ellipsoid berry, 1-1.2 cm in diameter, to 1.5 cm long, black and dull when mature (yellowish fide Cabrera 1983), glabrous, the pericarp thin; fruiting pedicels 1.2-1.5 cm long, ca. 1.5 mm in diameter, more or less woody, pendent from the weight of the berry. Seeds> 40 per berry, 1.5-2 mm long, 1-1.5 mm wide, rounded to flattened-reniform, pale yellow, the surfaces minutely pitted, the testal cells circular. Chromosome number: not known.

Distribution

( Figure 15 ). In the Río de la Plata drainage from Buenos Aires, Argentina and adjacent Uruguay to the upper Río Pilcomayo in Paraguay, and in coastal Brazil from Bahia south to Rio Grande do Sul, from 0-700 m elevation. Solanum amygdalifolium is also cultivated outside of its native range for its showy flowers (Bolivia, Andean Argentina).

Ecology.

Occurs in chaco vegetation along streams and rivers, in thickets and in open vegetation.

Common names:

Argentina. duraznillo ( Morton 1976); Jujuy: jazmín ( Cabrera 1983); Tucumán: amor porteño ( Morton 1976).

Conservation status.

Least Concern (LC); EOO>50,000 km2 (LC) and AOO>5,000 km2 (LC). See Moat (2007) for explanation of measurements.

Discussion.

Solanum amygdalifolium occurs over a very broad geographical range in association with fresh (non-brackish) water, and has been characterised as semi-aquatic by some authors ( Mentz and Oliveira 2004). In chaco habitats in Paraguay it always grows in riverside thickets, and forms loose scrambling tangles. With its very large, showy flowers, strongly angled stems and narrow, simple leaves, it is not easily confused with any other species of the Dulcamaroid clade; it is somewhat similar to other dulcamaroids from southern South America, particularly narrow-leaved specimens of Solanum flaccidum , but the smaller flowers, more pubescent leaves and unequal filaments of the latter species are distinguishing features. Solanum flaccidum grows in completely different types of habitats than does Solanum amygdalifolium , so confusion in the field is unlikely.

In general, Solanum amygdalifolium is quite monomorphic vegetatively over its broad range, varying only in degree of pubescence between individuals and somewhat in inflorescence size depending on plant age, but the flowers of plants from the Chaco regions of Argentina and Paraguay are much larger than those of plants from more coastal populations near the mouth of the Río de la Plata in Buenos Aires and adjacent Uruguay. Flower size may be related to water availability, as plants collected from near streams and wet places in the wet season all appear to have larger flowers than those from drier areas. The specimens collected in the foothills of the Andes in the provinces of Jujuy and Salta, Argentina appear to have all been from cultivated plants ( Cabrera 1983).

Two collections were cited in Martius’s original description of Solanum persicifolium ; Martius 255 appears to be the more widely distributed of the syntypes cited in the protologue and as it is a numbered collection is more reliable for tracing duplicates. The duplicate in M here selected as the lectotype has annotations in Martius’s hand. Morton annotated his photograph [Morton neg. 8668] of Martius s.n. ( São Paulo, the other syntype) at M as holotype, but there is no evidence on the specimen or in the protologue that this is the case.

Morong ( Morong and Britton 1893) clearly intended Solanum handelianum as a replacement name for Solanum angustifolium Lam.; he cites "S. angustifolium Lam., Illus. no. 2343, not Miller" and although he cites a collection of his own from near Asunción in Central Paraguay (Morong 818), he does not append “n.sp.” to the epithet as he does for all new taxa he described in 1893 from his own collections.

Specimens examined.

Argentina. Buenos Aires: Buenos Aires, 1831, Bacle 55 (F,G, G-DC); La Plata, Berisso, 15 Dec 1941, Beffon s.n. (SI); Barrancas de Belgrano, Apr 1946, Castellanos 822 (CORD); Buenos Aires, 10 Apr 1900, Debeaux 70 (F, GH, US); Río Negro, Allen, Feb 1939, Hunziker 161 (CORD); Martín Coronado, 8 Apr 1942, Hunziker 3616 (CORD); Río de la Plata, Reserva Natural Costanera Sur, 9 Jan 1993, Liede & Conrad 3003 (MO); Avellaneda, Feb 1918, Molfino 25707 (US); Isla Martín García, Apr 1935, Pastore 326 (SI); Quilmes, Rodríguez 179b (A, SI); Barrancas al Sud, 12 Mar 1902, Venturi 40 (CORD); Catamarca: Ancasti, Las Palomas, 5 Mar 1950, Brizuela 884 (CORD); Pomán, Dec 1910, Spegazzini s.n. (SI); Chaco: La Fidelidad, 1918, Jörgensen 2827 (SI); 1 de Mayo, Colonia Benítez, 30 Sep 1971, Martínez et al. s.n. (SI); Colonia Benítez, orilla Río Tragadero, 24 Mar 1948, Schulz 7251 (F, MO); Corrientes: Bella Vista, Paraje Rincón del Ambrosio, 12 Oct 1975, Irigoyen 248 (MO); Esquina, Islas frente a Esquina, 30 Nov 1974, Krapovickas et al. 26860 (G, MO); Esquina, Colonia Libertador, arroyo Barrancas, 15 Mar 1975, Krapovickas et al. 27773 (G, MO); Bella Vista, Bella Vista, nameless island in Río Paraná, some 2 km above Bella Vista, 28 Jan 1956, Pedersen 3716 (G, GH, US); Concepción, Carambola, 29 Feb 1972, Pedersen 10075 (A, CORD, L, MO, S); Empedrado, Estancia La Yela, 2 Jun 1984, Pedersen 13917 (G, MO); Córdoba: San Justo, San Francisco, 7 Dec 1946, Baliguo 944 (B); Capital, Córdoba, estación de ferrocarril Manuel Belgrano, 15 Mar 2000, Chiarini 316 (CORD); Capital, Córdoba, Apr 1916, Stuckert 23259 (CORD); Río Segundo, Pilar, en un cerco sobre calle 25 de Mayo, 20 Oct 1991, Subils 4520 (CORD); Entre Ríos: Uruguay, Concepción del Uruguay, alrededores del Banco Pelay, 2005, Barboza et al. 1566 (CORD); Gualeguaychú, alrededores, Dec 1936, Cabrera 3966 (F); Victoria, Isla del Pillo, Río Paraná, 20 Apr 1984, Oberti s.n. (CORD); Victoria, Isla del Pillo, casa de Sr. Tomas A. Nuñez, 7 Apr 1996, Oberti s.n. (CORD); Delta de Paraná y Medanos (Sud de Entre Rios), costas del Río Paraná-Mirri, 7 Jan 1904, Pennington 128 (CORD); Concepción del Uruguay, Banco Pelay, en camino a Banco Pelay, 5 Apr 1994, Solís Neffa et al. 59 (GH); La Paz, Isla Curuzú-Chalí, 30 Jan 1981, Troncoso & Bacigalupo 3127 (MO); Formosa: Pirané, Palo Santo, NE de Palo Santo, entre Palo Santo et le Riacho Pilagá, 85 m, 8 Nov 1986, Charpin & Eskuche 20253 (G); Los Matacos, 15 km east, 600 m, 11 Oct 1938, Eyerdam & Beetle 22940 (GH); Pilcomayo, Paraíso, 8 Oct 1948, Morel 6155 (B); Laishí, Herradura, 12 Oct 1950, Pedersen 1231 (G, US); La Rioja: Estación Cebollar, 13 Jan 1910, Spegazzini s.n. (SI); Mendoza: Guaymallén, El Borbollón, 28 Feb 1947, Villafaño 828 (B); Misiones: Posadas, in ripa limosa fluminis Alto Paraná, 16 Nov 1907, Ekman 816 (G, S, US); Capital, Nemesio Parma, 30 Feb 1994, Guillén 393 (CORD); San Pedro, El Alcázar, 6 Apr 1949, Schwindt 1499 (CORD); Salta: Anta, Puerto Verde, 19 Dec 1947, Luna 551 (B); Rosario de Lerma, Campo Quijano, 1200 m, Feb 1941, Meyer 3654 (F, GH); Capital, Ciudad de Salta, Av. Chile, proximo al Río Arenales, 12 Jun 1977, Novara et al. 443 (CORD); Capital, Ciudad de Salta, vias del FFCC entre la estación y calle Olavarria, 1190 m, 25 Oct 1989, Novara 9053 (CORD, G, S); General Güemes, Ojo de Agua, ruta 10, 6-9 km al NE de Gral. Guemes, 650 m, 12 May 1990, Novara & Bruno. 9873 (CORD, G, S); San Juan: Rawson, Médano de Oro, 650 m, 16 Jan 1987, Kiesling & Maglioli 6455 (SI); Santa Fe: General Obligado, Arroyo Malabrigo, entre Reconquista y Fortín Olmos, ca. 25 km de Reconquista, 10 Nov 1954, Hunziker 10372 (CORD); Canal Viejo de Santa Fé a Colastiné, Jan 1936, Job 734 (F, GH); Isla Mascota, La Reconquista, Río Paraná, Jan 1936, Job 948 (F); General Obligado, Villa Ocampo, (Isla), 29 Jan 1964, Panigatti 483 (CORD); Las Colonias, entre Esperanza y Santa Fé, 11 Apr 1984, Penseiro 1510 (SI); San Cristóbal, Arroyo Las Conchas, Ruta 13, 4 Apr 1984, Prado 625 (CORD); D.P.Malabrigo, F.C. [ferrocarril] a Reconquista, 13 m de Chico Malabrigo, 20 Nov 1906, Schroeter 164 (SI); Santiago del Estero: Rivadavia, Ruta Nac. 34, 100 m, 17 Jul 1964, Hunziker & Cocucci 17773 (CORD); Quebracho, Paso de la Cina, a orillas de Río Dulce, a unos pocos km al norte de Limache, 6 Jul 1991, Hunziker 25443 (CORD); Robles, Colonia Jaímez, 12 Sep 1948, Luna 1354 (CORD); Tucumán: Villa Luján, 11 Feb 1919, Venturi 272 (SI, US).

Bolivia. Santa Cruz: Cordillera, Bañados de Izozog, Cachari, ‘ACARARENDA’, 340 m, 11 Mar 1991, Navarro et al. 294 (MO); Florida, Samaipata, 1700 m, 17 Jul 2000, Wood 16448 (K).

Brazil. Mato Grosso do Sul: margens do Rio Miranda, 2 Jul 1983, Conceicao 1441 (MO); Rio Grande do Sul: Guaíba, 24 Jan 1949, Rambo 40159 (B, F); Porto Alegre, Rio Guahyba, Mar 1899, Reineck & Czermack 379 (G); Morro do Côco, Viamao, 22 Nov 1979, Soares 175 (F); Rio de Janeiro: environs de Rio de Janeiro, Glaziou 13087 (K, LE); Botafogo, Guillot s.n. (P); Itaipu, near Rio de Janeiro, 28 Oct 1828, Lund s.n. (BM); Rio de Janeiro, Macrae s.n. (GOET); Eugenho Velho, Rio de Janeiro, Miers 3885 (K); Rio de Janeiro, May 1832, Riedel 407 (US); Rio de Janeiro, 1844, Widgren s.n. (S).

Paraguay. Alto Paraguay: Parque Nacional Defensores de Chaco, alrededores del Madrejòn, 17 Jul 1985, Brunner 1218 (G); Madrejón, 20 Jun 1983, Hahn 1474 (BH, G); Boquerón: Estancia Toro Mocho, 17 Feb 2006, Egea et al. 886 (BM); Central: Asunción, Jun 1874, Balansa 2012 (G); Ypacaray, Cuervo Cui (Cordillera de Altos), Sep 1913, Hassler 11756 (BM, E, G, GH, L); Lago Ypacaraí, Feb 1903, Fiebrig 939 (E, F, G, GH, K, L); Asunción, Bahia, Jun 1988, Mereles 1193 (G); Río Salado, cruce en el camino Linguio-Embocada, Jul 1971, Schinini 4030 (G); Limpio, Rincón El Peñon, 27 May 1987, Zardini 2672 (G); Estero de Ypoá, Puerto Guyrati on Río Paraguay, 22 Jun 1993, Zardini & Guerrero 36385 (G); Concepción: Puerto Risso, on Rio Paraguay, between Rio Apa & Rio Aquidaban, 1908, Fiebrig 4079 (G, K); prope Concepción, Aug 1901, Hassler 7193 (BM, G, GH, K, P, S); Río Napegue, Aug 1988, Mereles 1311 (G); Concepción, S. Chaco, 91 m, Jun 1944, Sandeman 4834 (K); Cordillera: Río Salado [Palado], Aug 1901, Hassler 3207 (BM, G, GH, K, S); San Bernardino, Feb 1915, Rojas 1624 (S); San Bernardino, ufer des Río Salado, Feb 1916, Rojas 8563 (K); western side of Río Piribebuy basin, 27 km W of Arroyos y Esteros, 19 May 1990, Zardini & Velázquez 20317 (G); Guairá: Yataití, river Tebacuary, Mar 1933, Jörgensen 4657 (GH); Itapúa: Trinidad, 1914, Chodat 39 (G); Misiones: Llanuras de Santa Ana, Anonymous 76 (G); Villa Florida, Río Tebicuary, en banco de arena frente a la cuidad, 20 Jul 2000, Mereles & González Parini 7990 (G); Paraguarí: Estero de Ypoá, northern part, 10 km above Nueva Italia on Arroyo Cañabe, 23 Jun 1990, Zardini & Velázquez 21657 (G); Presidente Hayes: Carretera trans-Chaco, km 320, 15 May 1984, Billiet & Jadin 3063 (MO); Estancia Vanguardia, 29 Mar 2004, Egea & Centrón 376 (BM); Estancia La Golondrina, Villa Hayes, 9 Sep 1982, Hahn 673 (BH, G); Estancia Santa Asunción, 25 Oct 2004, Peña-Chocarro & Egea 1940 (BM); Ruta Ñ, frente a la entrada a Vanguardia, 3 Feb 2005, Peña-Chocarro & Egea 2404 (BM).

Uruguay. Colonia: Colonia Valdense, near Gallant, Feb 1957, Dubugnon 213 (G); Montevideo: Montevideo, Courbon s.n. (G); Montevideo, Fruchard s.n. (F); Atahualpa, 25 m, Apr 1925, Herter 190 (BH, F, G, GH, MO, S, SI); Tacuarembó: Rincón de la Laguna, 15 Feb 1947, Castellanos 17776 (CORD); ruta 26 km 300, pasando el puente sobre el arroyo Yaguarí, 28 Nov 2001, Seijo et al. 2541 (MO).

Figures

Figure 14. Solanum amygdalifolium Steud. (A, C-E drawn from Nee 52046 B drawn from Mendoza 102). Illustration by Bobbi Angell.

Figure 15. Distribution of Solanum amygdalifolium Steud.