Solanum xanti

Solanum xanti
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Solanales
Family: Solanaceae
Genus: Solanum
Species: S. xanti
Binomial name
Solanum xanti
A. Gray

Solanum xanti, known commonly as chaparral nightshade,[1] purple nightshade, and San Diego nightshade, is a member of the genus Solanum. It is native to the Western United States in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Oregon, and to Northwest Mexico in Baja California. [2]

The plant grows in chaparral, oak woodlands, conifer forests, desert Madrean Sky Islands, and other habitats. [3]

Description

Solanum xanti is a perennial herb or subshrub producing a branching hairy stem up to about 90 centimetres (35 in) in maximum height. The leaves are up to 7 centimeters long and are lance-shaped to oval, mostly unlobed except for occasional lobes at the bases of the blades.

It flowers from February to June in the wild, bearing an umbel-shaped inflorescence with many purple-blue flowers up to 3 centimeters wide. The fruit is a green berry 1 to 1.5 centimeters wide. [2]

Varieties

Varieties of the species include:

Cultivation

The plant is cultivated as an ornamental plant by specialty plant nurseries for planting in perennial border, drought-tolerant and native plant gardens. It grows from sunny locations to dry shade, such as under native oaks. [10] [11] [12]

The plant is deer resistant, due to its poisonous qualities.

Selections

Cultivars and varieties available include:

See also

References

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