About Solanum ditrichum A.R.Bean
Solanum ditrichum A.R.Bean, commonly known as forest nightshade, is a low-growing herbaceous perennial plant native to the east coast of Australia. It occurs on the coast and tablelands north of Dungog. It grows up to 60 cm high. Its leaves measure 6 to 12 cm long and 4.5 to 9.5 cm wide. Most of the plant is covered in sharp spines. It produces five-petaled blue or lilac flowers that can appear at any time of year. The fruit is a berry, 21 to 26 mm in diameter, with a stem around 16 mm long. The fruit is yellowish green or pale green, marked with purple or dark green streaks. Its seeds are pale yellow. This species grows in moist habitats, including sclerophyll forest and disturbed areas within rainforest. It was first formally published in scientific literature in 2004 by Anthony Bean in the journal Austrobaileya, based on a type specimen collected near Grafton.
