Cockroach berry, soda- or Sodom-apple

Solanum ciliatum Lamarck

Shrubs, erect, sparsely to densely armed, 0.3–1(–2) m, prickles yellowish, straight or slightly reflexed, to 15 mm, gla­brate to moderately pubes­­cent, hairs spreading, unbranched, eglan­dular. Leaves petiolate; petiole 2–10(–13) cm; blade simple, broadly ovate, 4–15 × 4–15 cm, margins shallowly to deeply lobed with 2–3 lobes per side, lobe margins entire to coarsely lobed, base cordate. Inflorescences extra-axillary, ± sessile, unbranched, 1–7-flowered. Pedicels ca. 1 cm in flower, 1.5–2 cm in fruit. Flowers radially symmetric; calyx somewhat accrescent, sometimes prickly, 4–6 mm, pubescent with minute glands and longer, simple, eglandular hairs, lobes triangular; corolla white, stellate, 1.5–2 cm diam., without interpetalar tissue; stamens equal; anthers narrow and tapered, 5–6.5 mm, dehiscent by terminal pores; ovary glabrous. Berries dull orange to red, globose, 2–4 cm diam., glabrous, without sclerotic granules. Seeds yellow, flattened, winged at maturity, 4–6 × 4–6 mm, minutely pitted. 2n = 24.

Flowering Apr–Oct (year-round in Fla.). Disturbed areas, sandy soils; 0–1000 m; introduced; Fla., La., Miss., N.C., S.C., Tex.; South America (Brazil); introduced also in West Indies, Central America, elsewhere in South America, Asia, Africa, Pacific Islands, Australia.

Solanum capsicoides is presumed native to coastal Brazil and is grown as an ornamental for its showy red fruits. It has spread from cultivation and become naturalized in tropical and subtropical climates. In the flora region, it is found particularly in Florida. The name S. aculeatissimum Jacquin has been misapplied to S. capsicoides (for example, J. K. Small 1913; A. E. Radford et al. 1968; D. S. Correll and M. C. Johnston 1970; R. W. Long and O. Lakela 1971).