Weed Identification

Australia > > Apple of Sodom

Apple of Sodom

Solanum linnaeanum

Alternative Name(s): Solanum hermannii, Solanum sodomeum.

Family: Solanaceae.

Form: Shrub

Origin: Native of South Africa.

Flowers/Seedhead: Produced singly or in few-flowered groups, each flower 1.5–2.5 cm wide. Flowers most of year.

Description: Erect bushy dark green perennial shrub to 1.5 m high. Leaves 4–8 cm long, elliptic in outline, margins deeply lobed; on a stalk to 2 cm long. Flat light brown to orange seeds 2–3 mm long.

Distinguishing features: Distinguished by prickles 3–15 mm long that are common on most parts (longest on leaf mid-veins); star-shaped hairs and some glandular hairs, upper leaf surface sparsely hairy, lower leaf surface more densely hairy; mauve flowers with anthers 4.5–6 mm long; berries globe-shaped, mottled green at first, ripening yellow, 2–3 cm wide, drying brown.

Dispersal: Spread by seed usually in berries blown or dragged about.


Flower, immature fruit with green mottling,
ripe yellow fruit, deeply lobed leaves &
prickles on stems & leaf veins
Flinders Ocean Beach,
Victoria, January
photo J. R. Hosking

Notes: First collected in Australia in 1801. Now mainly found in coastal areas, often associated with sandy calcareous soils. Minor weed of disturbed areas, especially roadsides and in rough pastures. Not eaten by stock. Fruits are poisonous to stock and humans, especially when green.

References:

    Noxious Weeds of Australia.W. Parsons and E. Cuthbertson, 1992, pages 614–616.

Web References: Search Australian web sites for further information on this weed.

This weed has been included in the WEEDeck field guide as card S18

More information about WEEDeck is available from Sainty & Associates Pty. Ltd.

 

Australia > > Apple of Sodom

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