Solanum campylacanthum

Family: Solanaceae Genus: Solanum Species: campylacanthum

Synonyms: Solanum obliquum, Solanum maranguense, Solanum beniense, Solanum verbascifrons, Solanum delagoense, Solanum cufodontii, Solanum secedens, Solanum sennii, Solanum delagoense subsp. punctatistellatum, Solanum deckenii, Solanum iodes, Solanum lachneion var. protopyrrhotrichum, Solanum omitiomirense, Solanum panduriforme, Solanum astrochlaenoides, Solanum malacochlamys, Solanum merkeri var. mediidominans, Solanum tomentellum, Solanum merkeri var. ruandense, Solanum campylacanthum subsp. panduriforme, Solanum lachneion, Solanum stellativillosum, Solanum campylacanthum var. ellipsoideum, Solanum bojeri var. integrum, Solanum delagoense subsp. baumii, Solanum merkeri, Solanum omahekense, Solanum mesomorphum, Solanum ochracanthum, Solanum bussei, Solanum repandifrons, Solanum himatacanthum, Solanum delagoense var. obliquum, Solanum delagoense var. fischeri, Solanum merkeri var. intermontanum, Solanum delagoense subsp. epacanthastrum, Solanum pentheri, Solanum endlichii, Solanum bojeri var. deckenii, Solanum malacochlamys var. transgrediens, Solanum neumanni, Solanum phoricum, Solanum psilostylum, Solanum pharmacum, Solanum campylacanthum subsp. cordifrons, Solanum bojeri, Solanum delagoense subsp. pliomorphum, Solanum suaveolens, Solanum tuntula, Solanum benguelense, Solanum tabacicolor, Solanum macrosepalum, Solanum fischeri, Solanum delpierrei, Solanum volkensii var. himatacanthum, Solanum mossambicense, Solanum delagoense subsp. transvaalense, Solanum delagoense var. karagweanum, Solanum trepidans, Solanum merkeri var. endastrophorum, Solanum campylacanthum subsp. kondeense, Solanum bojeri var. houyanum, Solanum urbanianum, Solanum bojeri var. sinuatorepandum, Solanum antidotum, Solanum pembae, Solanum delagoense var. brachyastrotrichum, Solanum stellativillosum var. makinduense, Solanum ukerewense, Solanum melongenifolium, Solanum merkeri subsp. militans, Solanum lachneion var. abbreviatum, Solanum delagoense var. munitius, Solanum delagoense subsp. omahekense, Solanum merkeri var. tobleri, Solanum delagoense var. benguelense, Solanum lachneion var. intercedens, Solanum delagoense var. astrochlaenoides, Solanum magdalenae, Solanum delagoense var. tomentellum, Solanum volkensii, Solanum campylacanthum var. mollius, Solanum neumanni var. schoense, Solanum mossambicensis, Solanum campylacanthum subsp. beniense

Botanical Description

Solanum campylacanthum is a prickly perennial shrub or subshrub in the Solanaceae family, widely distributed across sub-Saharan Africa from the Sahel southward through East Africa to southern Africa. Plants reach 0.5 to 2 metres in height and bear stout, recurved prickles on stems, petioles, and leaf veins. Leaves are alternate, ovate to elliptic, often shallowly lobed, with stellate pubescence on both surfaces and frequently with prickly midribs. The inflorescence is a few-flowered cyme bearing showy violet to bluish-purple stellate flowers about two to three centimetres across with bright yellow connivent anthers. Fruits are globose berries about two centimetres in diameter, ripening from green with darker mottling to yellow or orange, and contain numerous flattened seeds. The species favours disturbed ground, grassland, and bushveld and is regarded as toxic to livestock owing to its solanaceous alkaloids.

Native Region: Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Cape Provinces, Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Free State, Kenya, KwaZulu-Natal, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Northern Provinces, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zaïre, Zimbabwe

Cultural & Historical Context

Traditional American Uses

None Documented

Chemistry & External Identifiers

Trefle ID

268888

Important Disclaimer

This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.

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