Turkey berry

Shrubs or trees, erect, sparsely to moderately armed, 1–4 m, prickles brownish, straight to recurved, 3–7 mm, moderately to densely pubescent, hairs sessile to short-stalked, stellate, 4–8-rayed, central ray shorter than or equal to lateral rays, moderately pubescent with unbranched, glandular hairs on inflorescences and calyces. Leaves petiolate; petiole 1–5 cm; blade simple, ovate to elliptic, 7–23 × 4–14 cm, margins subentire to coarsely lobed with 3–4 lobes per side, lobe margins entire to coarsely lobed, base truncate to subcordate and asymmetrical. Inflorescences extra-axillary, unbranched or branched, 10–20-flowered, to 6 cm. Pedicels 1–1.5 cm in flower, erect and 1.5–2.5 cm in fruit. Flowers radially symmetric; calyx slightly accrescent, unarmed, 4–8 mm, sparsely to moderately pubescent with unbranched, gland-tipped hairs, lobes lanceolate; corolla white, stellate, 2–3 cm diam., with sparse interpetalar tissue; stamens equal; anthers narrow and tapered, 6–9 mm, dehiscent by terminal pores; ovary glabrous or glandular-puberulent at apex. Berries green to yellow, globose, 1–1.5 cm diam., glabrous, without sclerotic granules. Seeds light brown, flattened, 2.5–3 × 2–2.5 mm, minutely pitted. 2n = 24.

Flowering year-round in frost-free areas. Disturbed sites; 0–10 m; Ala., Fla.; Mexico; West Indies; Central America; South America (Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Venezuela); introduced in Asia, Africa, Indian Ocean Islands, Pacific Islands, Australia.

Solanum torvum is listed by the United States federal government and several states as a noxious weed. It is occasional to rare in peninsular Florida and could pos­sibly become invasive elsewhere in subtropical climates. The green fruits are used in Asian and West Indian cui­sine, often as an addition to soups and curries.