Solanaceae

Solanum chrysotrichum

Common Names: Giant devil’s fig

Plant Form: Erect shrub or small tree. Size: 1.5 to 4 m tall. Stem: Upright, with sparse curved prickles and star shaped hairs. Leaves: Large, up to 30 cm long, usually deeply lobed, hairy underneath, alternating along stem. Flowers: White, star shaped, to 5 cm diameter, in clusters of up to 50. Fruit and Seeds: Round berries, greenish yellow to orange, in small to large clusters, containing many light brown seeds. Habitat: Pastures, waterways, forests, roadsides, parks, old gardens. Distinguishing Features: Generally larger leaves and less reddish hairs on new growth than lookalike Turkey berry (Solanum torvum). Impacts: Replaces and outcompetes native vegetation, prickles can inflict injuries, suspected of poisoning livestock.