Solanum torvum Swartz
Family
Solanaceae
Synonyms
Solanum ferrugineum Jacq., S. largiflorum C. White.
Vernacular Names
|
Malaysia |
Terong pipit, terong rembang. |
|
English |
Devil’s fig, plate brush. |
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Indonesia |
Takokak, pokak (Javanese), terong pipit (Sumatra). |
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Papua New Guinea |
Podopodo kai ra ta ba rau (New Britain, Kuanua). |
|
Philippines |
Takapasin (Tagalog), taogotan (Bisaya), balbalusa (Bontoc). |
|
Laos |
Kh’èèngz faaz, kh’èèngz saph’au. |
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Thailand |
Makhua-phuang (General), makhwaeng (Northern). |
|
Vietnam |
C[af] d[aj]i hoa tr[aws]ng, c[af] hoang. |
Geographical Distributions
Solanum torvum originates from the Antilles, but is now a pantropical weed. Occasionally, it is also cultivated, especially in South, Southeast and East Asia.
Description
Solanum torvum is a spreading or scrambling slender shrub that can grow up to 3 m tall. It is pubescent with star-shaped hairs. The prickles are scattered on stem, branches and leaves especially in younger growth. They are 3-7 mm long and slightly hooked.
The leaves are arranged alternate, solitary or in pairs and variable. The petiole is 1.5-5 cm long. The leaf blade is ovate, measuring 7-20 cm x 4-18 cm, coarsely and sinuously 7-lobed. The base is equal or unequal and somewhat with small lobes. The lobes are triangular, measure 3-4 cm long, acute or obtuse.
The inflorescence is a compact, branched, 50-100-flowered corymb, at first terminal but later becomes lateral and markedly supra-axillary. The peduncle is 1-2 cm long. The pedicel is 0.5-1 cm long, slightly elongating and thickening in fruit. The flowers are hermaphrodite where the upper ones may be male. The sepal is 5-lobed, measures 3-4 mm long and persistent. The petal is 1 cm long, star-shaped, measures 2.5 cm in diametre, white and with 5 lance-shaped lobes. The 5 stamens are inserted on petal throat. The anthers on very short filaments are 6-7 mm long and attenuate. The ovary is spherical, pubescent and with style 8-10 mm long.
The fruit is a globular berry, measures 1-1.5 cm in diametre, yellowish, smooth and is produced in clusters of few to 10.
The seeds are 1.5-2 mm long, 300-400 per fruit, flat and brownish.
Ecology / Cultivation
Solanum torvum is a common pantropical weed, common along roadsides and in waste places after soil disturbance, usually as individual plants. In cultivated fields, it is not usually a troublesome weed. It prefers moist, but not places that are too wet, and occurs up to 1600 m altitude.
Line Drawing / Photograph
References
- Plant Resources of South-East Asia No. 8: Vegetables.
