Common name: Thargomindah Nightshade
Solanum sturtianum F.Muell. APNI*
Description: Erect shrub to 3 m high, silvery-green or grey-green; usually stellate-tomentose; prickles absent or scattered to abundant on branches, rare elsewhere.
Leaves lanceolate, 3–6 cm long, 0.5–1.5 cm wide, margins entire and often slightly undulate; ± discolorous, both surfaces green, tomentose; petiole 0.5–1.5 cm long.
Inflorescences few-12-flowered; peduncle 0–15 mm long; pedicels 5–8 mm long. Calyx 3–5 mm long; lobes 1–3 mm long. Corolla rotate-stellate, 30–40 mm diam., purple.
Berry 10–15 mm diam., yellow to brownish black, skin brittle and breaking irregularly.
Flowering: throughout year.
Distribution and occurrence: Grows mostly in arid areas, north from Broken Hill and west from Bourke.
NSW subdivisions: NWP, NFWP, SFWP
Other Australian states: Qld W.A. S.A. N.T.
Text by B. J. Conn
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 3 (1992)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.