Solanum burchellii flower

The mauve to purple flowers of Solanum burchellii grow solitary or in clusters of up to six on very short inflorescence peduncles and slightly longer pedicels of the individual flowers. Same as the calyx, the spreading corolla is five-lobed and star-shaped, the corolla tube cup-shaped. In picture two of the corolla lobes are stuck together, causing the star to be skew. The flower becomes about 15 mm to 22 mm wide.

The erect, channelled, oblong anthers are yellow, curving in around the style in picture, well exserted. The green stigma on its cylindrical style is taller and small in their midst. Pollen is released through slits at the top of the anthers once ripe.

Flowering happens from autumn to mid-spring. The photo was taken in August at Goegap.

The alternate leaves of S. burchellii grow on moderately long, thickish, hairy stalks. They are ovate in shape with shallowly lobed and wavy margins. There are three or four lobes on each side of the leaf midrib folding in somewhat along it. The midrib is prominent on its lower surface, as are the few ascending lateral veins. The leaf becomes about 2,5 cm to 4 cm long (Le Roux, et al, 2005; iNaturalist; http://solanaceaesource.org).