The genus Solanum (Solanaceae) in southern Africa: Subgenus Leptostemonum, the introduced sections Acanthophora and Torva

Abstract

In the genus Solanum L. (Solanaceae), subgenus Leptostemonum (Dunal) Bitter, section Acanthophora Dunal has four representatives in the Flora of southern Africa region (South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, Namibia, Botswana), namely S. aculeatissimum Jacq., S. capsicoides Allioni, S. mammosum L. (cultivated only) and S. viarum Dunal. Section Torva Nees has two representatives in southern Africa, namely S. chrysotrichum Schltdl. (S. hispidum auctt. non Pers.) and S. torvum Sw.; both are naturalized weeds. Solanum capsicoides, S. viarum and S. torvum have not been listed before for southern Africa. All are introduced species native to the New World. Descriptions, discussions, illustrations and distribution maps of the naturalized species are presented, as well as keys to the species of both sections.