From introduced American weed to Cape Verde Islands endemic: the case of Solanum rigidum Lam. (Solanaceae, Solanum subgenus Leptostemonum)

By

Knapp, Sandra
Vorontsova, Maria

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2013

Original Publication

PhytoKeys

Volume

25

Pages

35-46

Subjects

Africa , aubergine , Cape Verde Islands , Caribbean , Description , Eggplant , typification

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers [2010]-

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.25.4692

 

Abstract

A Solanum species long considered an American introduction to the Cape Verde Islands off the west coast of Africa is identified as Solanum rigidum, a member of the Eggplant clade of Old World spiny solanums (Solanum subgenus Leptostemonum) and is probably endemic to the Cape Verde Islands. Collections of this species from the Caribbean are likely to have been introduced from the Cape Verde Islands on slave ships. We discuss the complex nomenclatural history of this plant and provide a detailed description, illustration and distribution map. The preliminary conservation status of S. rigidum is Least Concern, but needs to be reassessed in light of its endemic rather than introduced status.