Solanum scabrum Miller subsp. laevis Olet, 2006

Olet, Eunice Apio, Heun, Manfred & Lye, Kåre A., 2006, A New Subspecies of Solanum scabrum Miller Found in Uganda, Novon: A Journal for Botanical Nomenclature 16 (4), pp. 508-511 : 510

1b. Solanum scabrum Miller subsp. laevis Olet , subsp. nov.

TYPE: Uganda. U4, Buganda, Kampala district, Kawempe div., Kawempe North , Kalerwe , Tula rd., edge of barbed wire fence next to local road, 1220 m, 14 Feb. 2001, E. A. Olet 88 (holotype, MHU ; isotypes, K, MO ). Figure 1 .

Herba annua; caule laevi herbaceo; ramis teretibus. Foliis ovatis, non dentato-angulatis, glabris. Inflorescentia 4 ad 10 flora. Calyx 5-lobatus, in statu fructifero reflexus; corolla alba. Baccae fere 10 mm diam., globosae, nigrae; semina 1.5–2 mm longa.

Semi-decumbent spreading herb, about 0.7–1.2 m high, highly branched, subglabrous to glabrous, pilose; stems purple to greenish purple, terete and expanded at nodes. Leaves cordate, 6–13.4 × 3.3– 7.3 cm; lamina dark green or dark green with purple patches; veins purple; leaf base truncate, rounded, subcuneate to cuneate; leaf apex acute to acuminate, sometimes aristate; leaf margin repand to entire; petiole winged halfway or not winged. Inflorescence lax cymes or lax usually extended cymes, (4)6- to 8(10)-flowered; peduncle at less than 90 ° with branch, ascending, 1.2–2 cm. Pedicels reflexed, 4.5–7(8) mm; mature calyx campanulate; corolla stellate, white with green to greenish yellow base, up to 12(13) mm wide; style (3.2)3.5–4.5(4.7) mm, prominently geniculate, exserted ca. 1.3–2 mm beyond anthers; anthers yellow to deep yellow, (2)2.3–3 mm. Ripe fruits deep purple to shiny black with greenish pulp, up to 10 mm broad; fruit cuticle of medium thickness and opaque; mature sepal lobes ovate, mature calyx reflexed away from berry, remains attached or not, fruits remaining or falling off from plant, fruit pedicel reflexed; seeds creamish green, 1.5–2 mm; stone cells absent.

Habitat and distribution. Along streams and in open parts of upland forests, especially Mt. Ruwenzori, but also in gardens and banana plantations, 1080–2500 m.

Phenology. In Uganda flowering is reported in February, March, May, August, November, and December, and fruiting in the same months.

Conservation status. This taxon is here assessed as Least Concern (LC), using the criteria detailed by IUCN (2001).

Note. Although we are describing subspecies laevis from Uganda only, it is very likely a mostly West African plant with its easternmost distribution area in Uganda. It is likely that West African wild forms are so intermixed with the cultivated plants that they are less easily recognized than in Uganda, where cultivation is very restricted.

Paratypes. UGANDA. Eastern region, Busoga, Kamuli dist., Bulamogi co., Namugongo subco., Bukomankola, 2 km W of Kaliro town, E. A. Olet 11 (K, MHU); Mwiga, 4 km NW of Kaliro, E. A. Olet 14 (MHU, NLH); 1 km W of Kaliro, E. A. Olet 15 (K, MHU). Central region, Buganda, Kampala dis., Kawempe div., Kawempe south, Makerere University, E. A. Olet 70 (EA, MHU).

Figures

Figure 1. Solanum scabrum L. subsp. laevis Olet, the wild subspecies of the garden huckleberry. Drawn by Janet Nabakooza from the holotype E. A. Olet 88 (MHU).