''Solanum robustum'', the shrubby nightshade, is a species of thorny perennial shrub native to north-eastern South America. It is related to the

potato The potato () is a starchy tuberous vegetable native to the Americas that is consumed as a staple food in many parts of the world. Potatoes are underground stem tubers of the plant ''Solanum tuberosum'', a perennial in the nightshade famil ...

and

tomato The tomato (, ), ''Solanum lycopersicum'', is a plant whose fruit is an edible Berry (botany), berry that is eaten as a vegetable. The tomato is a member of the nightshade family that includes tobacco, potato, and chili peppers. It originate ...

Description

A medium shrub, the plant may grow 4 to 8 feet (1.2 – 2.4 m) with velvety leaves and stems due to dense stellate trichomes present on all faces of the plant. Strong, straight or recurved flattened prickles up to 12 millimeters long may be found along the stems. The leaves grow 6 to 10 inches long and feature nine angled ridges along their perimeter. ''S. robustum'' blooms between late spring and mid fall with small clusters of white to yellow-white star shaped inflorescence followed by white or yellowish marble sized berries. ''S. robustum'' contains various

tropane alkaloids Tropane alkaloids are a class of bicyclic .2.1alkaloids and secondary metabolites that contain a tropane ring in their chemical structure. Tropane alkaloids occur naturally in many members of the plant family Solanaceae. Certain tropane alkaloi ...

in its leaves, fruit and stems and therefore should not be consumed.''Solanum Robustum''
Forest Starr, Kim Starr, Lloyd Loope, United States Geological Survey—Biological Resources Division, April 2003.

References

External links

{{Taxonbar, from=Q7555777 robustum