2. Solanum dulcamara L., Sp. Pl. 185. 1753. Boiss., Fl. Or. 4:285 1879; Clarke, l.c. 229; Collett, Fl. Siml. 342. 1902; Hawkes & Edmonds in Tutin et al., Fl. Eur. 3:198. 1972; R.R. Stewart l.c.643; Baytop in Davis, Fl. Turk. 6:441. 1978.
YASIN J. NASIR
A scrambling shrub up to 120 cm tall, glabrous to pilose-pubescent. Leaves 3-9 x 1.2-3 cm, ovate, base cordate or 1-4-pinnatipartite. Petiole up to 15 mm long, slender. Peduncle 1-22 (-35) mm long. Flowers violet, 5-10 in number, in extra-axillary paniculate cymes; limb 5-10 mm broad. Calyx ± 2.5 mm long, campanulate; lobes acute, pubescent. Corolla lobes 2-3 mm lonng, recurved, with munutely pubescent tips. Anthers 2.5-4 mm long, yellow; filaments less than 1 mm long, glabrous. Ovary glabrous. Berry flame-red, ± ovoid, 8-10 mm broad. Seeds subangled, ± 2.5 mm broad, minutely reticulate.
Fl. Per.: June-July.
Lectotype: Described from Europe, Hb. Linn. 148/7 (LINN).
Distribution: Euro-Siberian element, also N. Africa. The Himalaya from Kashmir to Sikkim.
The purple or woody nightshade is found in parts of Hazara and Kashmir from 1300-2800 m. A variable species as regards leaf shape and pubescence and includes forms with entire leaves (var. indivisum Boiss.) or plants which are ± sub-glabrous (Solanum pseudopersicum Pojark.).
The red berries and young shoots, as in the previous species are said to be medicinal (Dymock, Pharm. Ind. Reprint ed. 2:301. 1972).
