''Solanum capsicoides'', the cockroach berry, is a species of

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (). The term angiosperm is derived from the Ancient Greek, Greek words (; 'container, vessel') and (; 'seed'), meaning that the seeds are enclosed with ...

in the family

Solanaceae Solanaceae (), commonly known as the nightshades, is a family of flowering plants in the order Solanales. It contains approximately 2,700 species, several of which are used as agricultural crops, medicinal plants, and ornamental plants. Many me ...

. It is native to eastern Brazil but naturalized in other

tropical The tropics are the regions of Earth surrounding the equator, where the sun may shine directly overhead. This contrasts with the temperate or polar regions of Earth, where the Sun can never be directly overhead. This is because of Earth's ax ...

regions, where it sometimes becomes an

invasive weed An invasive species is an introduced species that harms its new environment. Invasive species adversely affect habitats and bioregions, causing ecological, environmental, and/or economic damage. The term can also be used for native species ...

Synonyms

This species had been included in '' S. aculeatissimum'' as

variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

''denudatum'' by Dunal (''Solanum denudatum'' of Bitter is '' S. humile'' as described by

Lamarck Jean-Baptiste Pierre Antoine de Monet, chevalier de Lamarck (1 August 1744 – 18 December 1829), often known simply as Lamarck (; ), was a French naturalist, biologist, academic, and soldier. He was an early proponent of the idea that biolo ...

). It was also included in the

eggplant Eggplant (American English, US, Canadian English, CA, Australian English, AU, Philippine English, PH), aubergine (British English, UK, Hiberno English, IE, New Zealand English, NZ), brinjal (Indian English, IN, Singapore English, SG, Malays ...

(''S. melongena'') under its

junior synonym In taxonomy, the scientific classification of living organisms, a synonym is an alternative scientific name for the accepted scientific name of a taxon. The botanical and zoological codes of nomenclature treat the concept of synonymy differently. ...

''S. trongum'' (as var. ''sinuato-pinnatifidum''), also by Dunal.Solanaceae Source (2006) In addition, the cockroach berry is sometimes referenced under the following obsolete names: * ''Solanum arrebenta'' Vell. * ''Solanum bodinieri'' H.Lév. & Vaniot * ''Solanum capsicoides'' Hort. Paris ex Lam. (preoccupied) * ''Solanum ciliare'' Willd. * ''Solanum ciliatum'' Lam. :''S. ciliatum'' of Blume from F.A.W. Miquel is an undetermined species of ''

Lycianthes ''Lycianthes'' is a genus of plants from the nightshade family (Solanaceae), found in both the Old World and the New World, but predominantly in the latter. It contains over 150 species, mostly from tropical America, with 35-40 species in Asia an ...

''. * ''Solanum ciliatum'' var. ''arenarium'' Dunal :''S. arenarium'' of Schur is '' S. villosum'' as described by

Philip Miller Philip Miller Royal Society, FRS (1691 – 18 December 1771) was an English botany, botanist and gardener of Scottish descent. Miller was chief gardener at the Chelsea Physic Garden for nearly 50 years from 1722, and wrote the highly popular ...

. :''S. arenarium'' of

Otto Sendtner Otto Sendtner (27 June 1813 – 21 April 1859) was a German botanist and phytogeographer born in Munich. He received his education at the University of Munich, where he was a student of Karl Friedrich Schimper (1803–1867). Afterwards he serv ...

is a valid species * ''Solanum macowanii'' Fourc. * ''Solanum pentapetaloides'' Roxb. ex Hornem. :''S. pentapetaloides'' of Bojer from Dunal in

de Candolle Augustin Pyramus (or Pyrame) de Candolle (, , ; 4 February 17789 September 1841) was a Swiss people, Swiss botany, botanist. René Louiche Desfontaines launched de Candolle's botanical career by recommending him at a herbarium. Within a couple ...

is '' S. imamense''. * ''Solanum pentapetalum'' Schltdl. * ''Solanum sinuatifolium'' Vell. * ''Solanum sphaerocarpum'' Moric.

References

Footnotes

* (2007)
''Solanum capsicoides''
Version of 2007-MAR-21. Retrieved 2007-SEP-15. * (2006)
''Solanum sessiliflorum''
Version of May 2006. Retrieved 2008-SEP-26. capsicoides Taxa named by Carlo Allioni {{Solanales-stub