Status:
valid
Authors:
Bohs
Source:
SolanaceaeSource.org
Year:
1990
Citation Micro:
Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 77: 404. 1990.
WFO Identifier:
wfo-0001029645
Common Names
- Morellifolium Potato
- Solanum morellifolium
- Morellifolium Nightshade
Description
Solanum morellifolium (also called 'Morellifolium Nightshade' and 'Morellifolium Potato', among many other common names) is a shrub or small tree native to Bolivia, Paraguay, and Argentina. It grows in open woodlands, grasslands, and scrublands, and is often found in disturbed habitats.
Uses & Benefits
Solanum morellifolium is used as an ornamental plant in gardens and as a medicinal herb to treat a variety of ailments. It is also used as a food source, as its leaves and stems can be eaten raw or cooked. The plant is also known to attract beneficial insects, such as bees and butterflies, to the garden.
Flower, Seeds and Seedlings
The flower of Solanum morellifolium is a white or pale purple star-shaped flower with five petals. The seed is a small, round, black seed. The seedlings are small, dark green, and have a single pair of leaves.
Where to Find Solanum morellifolium
Solanum morellifolium is native to South America and can be found in tropical and subtropical regions of the continent, including Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay.
Species in the Solanum genus
Solanum aemulans,
Solanum blanco-galdosii,
Solanum brucheri,
Solanum edinense,
Solanum michoacanum,
Solanum procurrens,
Solanum rechei,
Solanum sambucinum,
Solanum vallis-mexici,
Solanum abitaguense,
Solanum abollatum,
Solanum abortivum,
Solanum absconditum,
Solanum abutilifolium,
Solanum abutiloides,
Solanum acanthodapis,
Solanum acanthodes,
Solanum acaule,
Solanum accrescens,
Solanum acerifolium,
Solanum achorum,
Solanum acroglossum,
Solanum acropterum,
Solanum acroscopicum,
Solanum actaeibotrys,
Solanum actephilum,
Solanum aculeastrum,
Solanum aculeatissimum,
Solanum acuminatum,
Solanum acutilobum,
Solanum adenobasis,
Solanum adenophorum,
Solanum adoense,
Solanum adscendens,
Solanum adspersum,
Solanum aethiopicum,
Solanum affine,
Solanum africanum,
Solanum agnewiorum,
Solanum agnoston,
Solanum agrarium,
Solanum agrimoniifolium,
Solanum ajanhuiri,
Solanum alatirameum,
Solanum albescens,
Solanum albicans,
Solanum albidum,
Solanum albornozii,
Solanum albostellatum,
Solanum aldabrense,
Species in the Solanaceae family