Solanum schimperianum Hochst.
S. carense auct., non Dunal
Deciduous shrub, hermaphrodite, unarmed, up to 2 m in height, with young parts covered by a brownish or greyish indumentum of stellate hairs; older parts subglabrous. Leaves alternate, petiolate, with petiole up to 4 cm and leaf blade up to 12 × 8 cm, from ovate-lanceolate to broadly ovate, entire; initially laxly hairy on the upper side and densely stellate-puberulent on the underside; later subglabrous. Inflorescences subumbellate, with peduncle 5-20 mm, simple, bifurcated or trifurcated and with 10-30 flowers. Calyx up to 6 mm, campanulate, with 5 lobes form narrowly triangular to linear, with acuminate apex, with acumen up to 8 mm. Corolla with 5 fused petals, c. 15 mm in diameter, rotate, pale mauve, with 5 triangular lobes. Stamens of the same length, anthers 3-4 mm. Ovary with apex covered with glands and substellate hairs. Fruit a berry 6-7 mm in diameter, globose, orange.
Flowering:
January to July.
Fruiting:
March to September.
Habitat:
Somewhat shaded areas on fertile soils, above 1,400 m.
Distribution:
NE Africa (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Sudan, Egypt) and Yemen. In North Africa it reaches the mountainous area of Jebel Elba to the N.
Conservation status:
Rare but widely distributed species. Currently, it has not been assessed at a global level in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. In the Red List of vascular plants of Egypt (Flora Aegyptiaca Vol 1, 2000) it is listed as “Endangered”.