Solanum ellipticum

Solanum ellipticum, sometimes called potato bush or by the Arrernte name merne awele-awele, is a small, fast-growing, waxy-looking shrub of the Solanaceae endemic to arid and semi-arid Australia. It is widely distributed across Western Australia, the Northern Territory, South Australia, Queensland, and New South Wales, typically growing on sandy soils along creek lines, in mulga and spinifex country, and on disturbed ground, fruiting prolifically in the year following fire or substantial rainfall. The plant grows to 0.3-1 m tall with grey-green elliptic to ovate leaves and slender stems usually armed with small prickles. Mauve to violet, star-shaped five-lobed flowers about 2-3 cm across are produced in small cymes and develop into pale green to yellowish, globose berries 10-20 mm in diameter that emit a pungent, distinctive scent when ripening.