Solanum mammosum L., Solanaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: ru qie

English: nipple fruit

French: pomme zombi

Samoan: lapiti

Habit:  shrub

Description:  "Annual to shrubby perennial, to 1.5 m tall, stems flexuous, white and brown simple pubescent with a few porrect-stellate hair clusters, with spines 11-14 mm long, flattened, straight or curved.  Leaves with petioles 20-45 mm long, blades orbicular in outline, 6-14 x 7-14 cm, base slightly cordate, apex acute, margins sharply angular or dentate, white pilose on both surfaces, acicular spines on midrib and veins below.  Inflorescence congested umbelliform, 1- or 2- to 6-flowered, pedicels 6-10 mm long, villose; calyx campanulate, 5 mm in diameter, lobes linear acuminate 5 mm long, villose; corolla 18-24 mm long, lobes lanceolate-oblong, acuminate, purple; anthers 9-12 mm long.  Berry 32-60 mm long, 30-45 mm in diameter, mammose, the basal protuberances 3 or 5, orange, shiny."  (Howard, 1989)"Shrub with spiny stems, pinnately lobed, spiny alternate leaves, purple rotate flowers, and a large orange, irregularly shaped berry" (Whistler, 1988; p. 37).

Habitat/ecology:  In Fiji, "infrequently cultivated near sea level" (Smith, 1991; p. 11).  In Samoa, "rare in pastures on central Upolu" (Whistler, 1988; p. 37).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Greater Antilles, Central and South America.

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1991) (p. 11) Vouchers cited: DA 8992 (L.2952, L.3437)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced cultivated	Imada, Clyde T./Staples, George W./Herbst, Derral R. (2013) (p. Voucher specimens) Vouchers cited: Flynn 5275 (BISH 634129), Lorence 7416 (BISH 637260)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced cultivated	Imada, Clyde T./Staples, George W./Herbst, Derral R. (2013) (p. Voucher specimens) Vouchers cited: UH students s.n. (BISH 645582), Neal s.n. (BISH 70056), Suehiro s.n. (BISH 567709)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive	Frohlich, Danielle/Lau, Alex (2012) (p. 51) Voucher cited: D. Frohlich & A. Lau 2010032201 (BISH) Apparently naturalized in a parking lot.
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced cultivated	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 132) Voucher cited: MacKee 31708
Papua New Guinea Bismarck Archipelago	Bismarck Archipelago	introduced cultivated	Peekel, P. G. [translated by E. E. Henty] (1984) (p. 496) Abundant; planted by the natives as ornamentals or curiosities.
Papua New Guinea Bougainville Islands	Bougainville Island		Foreman, D. B. (1971) (p. 59)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	introduced invasive	Merrill, Elmer D. (1923) (p. 427) In thickets and weaste places along roads at low altitudes.
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island		Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 37)
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands	introduced cultivated	Hancock, I. R./Henderson, C. P. (1988) (p. 109)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Costa Rica (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Guatemala (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Honduras (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Nicaragua (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Panama (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
China China	China (People's Republic of)	introduced	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) 200-1300 m. Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan.
China China	Hong Kong	introduced cultivated	Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 220) Ornamental.
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	introduced cultivated	Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 80) Cultivated only
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Colombia	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Ecuador (Republic of) (continental)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Perú (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Seychelles Islands	introduced	Invasive Species Specialist Group (2017)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Solanum mammosum, please let us know.