Flora of New Zealand Series

Paraguayan nightshade

Much-branched, bushy and widespreading, unarmed shrub, to c. 2.5 m tall; hairs mostly simple; stems 4-ribbed except towards base of plant. Petioles 5-10-(20) mm long, slender. Lamina 2.5-6-(10) × 0.8-2.5-(6) cm, usually lanceolate-ovate to elliptic, sometimes broader, entire, puberulent, especially on midrib below; base attenuate; apex obtuse. Cymes with < 5 fls; peduncles 0; pedicels very slender. Calyx 4-5 mm long, puberulent; lobes small, subulate. Corolla 1.5-2.5-(3) cm diam., violet or deep blue with yellow centre; lobes very small, hairy, acute. Anthers c. 3 mm long. Berry not seen.

N.: Kaitaia, Mangonui, Kerikeri (N. Auckland), Onehunga, Papatoetoe (Auckland area), Ohiwa (Opotiki District, Bay of Plenty).

S. Brazil, N. Argentina, Paraguay 1976

Waste places and roadsides in and around settlements.

FL Jan-Dec.

Paraguayan nightshade is commonly cultivated in the warmer parts of the North Id, particularly north of the Volcanic Plateau and is reported to have red frs. The N.Z. plants probably represent cv. 'Grandiflorum', which has fls larger than those described for the wild sp. (Fig. 116). The 10-ribbed calyx with each rib produced into a tooth distinguishes it from all other spp. in N.Z. It has been known previously as S. rantonnetii and Lycianthes rantonnei in N.Z.