Brachistus stramoniifolius (Kunth) Miers

Solanaceae - Tomato family
Identification:
-a 2-6 m treelet, no spines
- paired glabrous leaves with tooth-like lobes,
- green-white flowers and red berries

flower

Description. Treelet, 2-6 m; stem prominently ridged and grooved; leaves simple, alternate, often paired at a node, to 12 x 25 cm, long petioles, margen usually with 1-3 pair of tooth-like lobes, glabrous; flowers 1-1.5 cm across with 5 green-white to yellow-white corolla lobes, ; fruit a juicy red berry, 1-1.5 cm diameter.

Similar species. Solanum chrysotrichum has thorns and stellate hairs, Witheringia meiantha and Witheringia solanaceae lack lateral lobes.

Local distribution. Pacific slope at 1300-1500 m.

Habitat. Disturbed soil in pastures, roadside and forest edge.

Species range. Mexico to Panama.

Abundance. Rare.

Phenology. Flower: January-March, September; Fruit: March-May, October.

Herbivores. Ithomia patilla (Ithomiinae).

Pollinators. Bees

Seed dispersers. Birds

Comments. Almost always grows where soil has been turned over or dug up.

Voucher No. Haber 10575
Plant intro
Images and text copyright © 2001-2006 by William A. Haber, http://efg.cs.umb.edu/
Created: 29 December 2003. Updated: 13 December 2006.