Jaltomata sp.

Solanaceae - Tomato Family

habit with fruit

 fruit
Identification:
- weak-stemmed herb on cut banks or epiphyte on tree trunks
- flower yellow-green with fused lobes
- berry purple-black; calyx with purple lines
flower

Description. A weak-stemmed herb or slightly woody shrub, often somewhat clambering; leaves paired, sparse pubescent, margin weakly lobed; flower with corolla yellow-green with a few darker green spots, the lobes nearly fused, anthers yellow; fruit purple-black, to 1 cm, fruiting calyx lobeswith a purple central line below, persistent.

Similar species:

Jaltomata repandidentata- grows below the cloud forest; erect herb, flowers more white; fruiting calyx without purple lines below.

Witheringia meiantha and Witheringia solanacea- flowers yellow with distinct lobes; fruit bright red.

Local distribution. Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve from near the field station to La Ventana.

Habitat. Cloud forest above 1500 m.

Species range. Endemic to the Monteverde area.

Abundance. Common

Phenology. Flower: Feb; Fruit: Feb-Mar, Sep.

Herbivores.

Pollinators. Bees

Seed dispersers. Birds

Comments. Known from only a few collections, but quite distinct from J. repandidentata in both habitat and morphology.

Voucher No. Haber 2804
Plant intro
Images and text copyright © 2001-2006 by William A. Haber, http://efg.cs.umb.edu/
Created: 15 May 2001. Updated: 11 December 2006.