Solanum cinereum | |
---|---|
small Nawarra Burr, with unripe fruit | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
(unranked): | Angiosperms |
(unranked): | Eudicots |
(unranked): | Asterids |
Order: | Solanales |
Family: | Solanaceae |
Genus: | Solanum |
Species: | S. cinereum |
Binomial name | |
Solanum cinereum R.Br. |
Solanum cinereum is a nightshade, known by the common name Narrawa burr. It is native to open woodland in south eastern Australia.
S. cinereum is a small perennial shrub, either sprawling, or erect to one metre. The leaves are heavily lobed, dark green, and shiny, and have sharp ~1 cm spines over their surface, and along the major veins. The flowers are purple, and occur all year, but less often in winter. The fruit is like a small, hard tomato, up to about 2 cm in diameter, coloured yellow green, drying to black.
S. cinereum is considered a weed in farmland, because it is poisonous to sheep, cattle, and possibly horses.