Solanum phoxocarpum (Osigawai and Sigawet, Masai, Kenya)
The mauve flower of Solanum phoxocarpum with the bee-pollinated poricidal anthers © Maria Vorontsova
Solanum phoxocarpum is a tree or shrub 3–6m tall, with several spiny stems growing out of the ground.
It grows at high altitudes in Kenyan and Tanzanian mountains, where it can be found in woodland above 2,100m.
There are large curved prickles on the main stems and the fruits are unusual conical berries, each fruit containing about 30 kidney-shaped seeds.
Like other Solanum species, this plant is pollinated by bees, which ‘buzz’ the anthers causing pollen to shoot out of holes at the anther tips.
Solanum phoxocarpum shrubs. Aberdare Mountains, Kenya. © Maria Vorontsova
In spite of the protection by National Parks in Kenya and Tanzania the populations of Solanum phoxocarpum are decreasing with the destruction of the highland forests.
Distribution
Solanum phoxocarpum grows primarily in Kenya with some occurrence in Tanzania. It is endemic to the East African Rift Valley, including:
- the Rift Valley Province
- Central Province
- Masai Province in Kenya
- Northern Province in Tanzania
Species detail
-
Taxonomy
Solanum phoxocarpum has an unusual appearance, with strange pointy yellow fruits, mauve flowers and large curved prickles on its stems. Take a closer look at this striking plant and its close relatives.
-
Biology
Solanum phoxocarpum is pollinated by bees, which collect the ripe pollen by landing on the plant’s anthers and vibrating, causing the pollen to shoot out. Find out more.
-
Uses
Find out what Solanum phoxocarpum can be used for.
-
Conservation
Solanum phoxocarpum is not currently at risk of extinction, but it is likely to decline as its habitat disappears. Find out more.
-
References
Get reference material for Solanum phoxocarpum.
Images
Cross-section of the unusual Solanum phoxocarpum fruit. A pen used here as a scaling object. Aberdare Mountains, Kenya.
© Maria Vorontsova
Solanum phoxocarpum - the conical pointed fruits. Aberdare Mountains, Kenya.
© Maria Vorontsova
A female fertile Solanum phoxocarpum flower, the long style visible between the anthers. Aberdare Mountains, Kenya.
© Maria Vorontsova
Shrubs of Solanum phoxocarpum growing by the path. Aberdare Mountains, Kenya.
© Maria Vorontsova
Solanum phoxocarpum plant with several fruits visible. Aberdare Mountains, Kenya.
© Maria Vorontsova
Male fertile Solanum phoxocarpum flower, with anthers but no style visible in the middle. Aberdare Mountains, Kenya.
© Maria Vorontsova
Solanum phoxocarpum fruits collected by the Kenya Seeds for Life project, waiting for the seeds to be prepared for storage. National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya.
© Maria VorontsovaAbout the author
$linktitle
Researching the spiny Solanum of Africa and Madagascar using traditional botanical systematics techniques.
A word from the author
"It is 2010, and there are still spiny trees out there completely not known to science!"
Toolbox
Share this
Glossary
Indumentum
A covering of hairs.
Infructescence
Branch bearing fruits.
Poricidal
Adjective describing anthers with openings at the tips.
| Description | Exception |
|---|---|
| Problem processing inline links | The value of attribute "onclick" associated with an element type "a" must not contain the '<' character. |
| Problem processing inline links | Problem while processing inline link for item 1-101-93365: The value of attribute "onclick" associated with an element type "a" must not contain the '<' character. See the replacement body in the console log. The attributes on the affected link were: class="rx_ephox_inlinevariant",contenteditable="false",inlinetype="rxvariant",rxinlineslot="105",rxselectedtext="",sys_dependentid="93363",sys_dependentvariantid="773",sys_folderid="",sys_relationshipid="539440",sys_siteid="" |