Texas Invasives

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Federal Noxious Weed

TDA Noxious Weed

TPWD Prohibited Exotic Species

Invasive Plant Atlas of the US

NOTE:

means species is on that list.

Solanum tampicense

scrambling nightshade, aquatic soda apple

Synonym(s): Solanum houstonii Dunel 1813, non Martyn 1807, Solanum quercifolium Miller
Family: Solanaceae
Duration and Habit: Perennial Shrub, Tree, Vine

Photographer: Charles T. Bryson
Source: USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org

Description

Sprawling semi-woody shrub. Reaching up to 15 ft. long and can reach 0.5 inches in diameter. The green stems can grow in an interlocking pattern, and are covered in recurved prickles and sparse stellate hairs. The leaves are alternately arranged with deeply waved margins and prickled veins. Leaves can grow to 10 inches long and 3 inches wide with stellate hairs. The flowers of S. tampicense are small with white petals and erect yellow anthers in the center. Flower clusters are branched and occur at leaf axils. Fruits are tomato-like berries reaching 1 inch in diameter and red coloring upon maturity. Each berry contains roughly 10-60 seeds. Seeds are yellow with a flattened round shape. (Solanum tampicense pdf)

Native Lookalikes: Currently no information available here yet, or there are no native Texas species that could be confused with scrambling nightshade, aquatic soda apple.

Ecological Threat: Able to survive in both full sunlight and full shade, S. tampicense can form dense thickets that crowd out native species and over run understory species.

Biology & Spread: Reproduces through berry-like fruits. S. tampicense can have prolific fruit production on plants exposed to full sun. Flooding is thought facilitate seed dispersal. (Solanum tampicense pdf)

History: First recorded on Dry Tortugas in 1974 and on the mainland in Charlotte County in 1983.

U.S. Habitat: S. tampicense can thrive in various wetland ecosystems, including cypress swamps, riparian areas and floodplains.

Distribution

U.S. Nativity: Introduced to the U.S.

Native Origin: West Indies, Mexico, Central America

U.S. Present: FL

Distribution in Texas: Wetland ecosystems of Charlotte, Desoto, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lee and Monroe counties in Florida. Infestations have been recorded along the Peace River, Six Mile Slough, and Fisheating Creek. (Solanum tampicense pdf)

Mapping

Invaders of Texas Map: Solanum tampicense
EDDMapS: Solanum tampicense
USDA Plants Texas County Map: Solanum tampicense

Native Alternatives

â€œDistinguished from other prickly Solanum spp. in Florida, native and exotic, by its clusters of up to 11 pea-sized red berries (with no dark markings when green); its petioled, longer-than-wide, deeply sinuate leaves; its pubescence of stellate hairs only (no straight or glandular hairs); and its clambering, almost vinelike habit.â€ (Solanum tampicense pdf)

Management

USE PESTICIDES WISELY: ALWAYS READ THE ENTIRE PESTICIDE LABEL CAREFULLY, FOLLOW ALL MIXING AND APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS AND WEAR ALL RECOMMENDED PERSONAL PROTECTIVE GEAR AND CLOTHING. CONTACT YOUR STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR ANY ADDITIONAL PESTICIDE USE REQUIREMENTS, RESTRICTIONS OR RECOMMENDATIONS. MENTION OF PESTICIDE PRODUCTS ON THIS WEB SITE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE ENDORSEMENT OF ANY MATERIAL.

Text References

Agricultural Research Service, Germplasm Resources Information Network

Online Resources

http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=424
http://www.plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=SOTA3

http://www.invasiveplantatlas.org/subject.html?sub=4279#pubs

http://www.fleppc.org/ID_book/solanum%20tampicense.pdf

http://www.eddmaps.org/florida/Species/subject.cfm?sub=4279

http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/node/424