lyreleaf nightshade

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• lyreleaf nightshade

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Solanum lyratum f. xanthocarpum
• Solanum lyratum var. xanthocarpum
• Solanum lyratum var. maruyamanum
• Solanum dulcamara var. chinense
• Solanum septemlobum var. indutum
• Solanum cathayanum
• Solanum dichotomum var. lyratum
• Solanum kayamae
• Solanum lyratum var. leucanthum
• Solanum lyratum f. purpuratum
• Solanum dulcamara var. pubescens
• Solanum lyratum var. filamentaceum
• Solanum dulcamara var. lyratum

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Solanales and family Solanaceae, it is classified under the genus Solanum. Specifically, its scientific name is Solanum lyratum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across several distinct regions of China. It is commonly found throughout the South-Central areas of the country. Additionally, its presence extends to the island province of Hainan and the North-Central territories. The species also inhabits the Southeast regions of the nation. Finally, its range reaches into the high-altitude landscapes of Tibet.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Solanum lyratum is characterized by its ability to thrive across a broad altitudinal gradient, demonstrating significant adaptability to varying mountain environments. This species typically inhabits diverse topographical zones, ranging from lower montane regions to high-altitude habitats. Specifically, its elevational range spans from a minimum of 600 m AMSL to a maximum of 2800 m AMSL, with a mean elevation of approximately 1700 m AMSL. This wide distributional breadth suggests that the plant is capable of tolerating a variety of temperature regimes and atmospheric pressures associated with different mountain strata, allowing it to occupy various ecological niches within its native landscape.

Elevational range max:

2800 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1700 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

600 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Solanum lyratum is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, though its growth patterns can exhibit variability depending on environmental conditions. As a perennial species, it possesses the ability to persist through multiple growing seasons, often developing robust root systems that allow for regrowth after periods of dormancy. Throughout its life cycle, the plant transitions through distinct vegetative and reproductive stages, typically beginning with seedling establishment from seed, followed by a period of vegetative expansion where it develops its characteristic foliage. Once mature, it enters its reproductive phase, producing flowers and eventually seeds that facilitate the continuation of the species. While its fundamental nature is perennial, the duration of individual life cycles can fluctuate, sometimes manifesting characteristics of annual or biennial patterns in response to seasonal shifts or resource availability.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Solanum lyratum is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb. This plant functions as an obligatory climber, utilizing its structure to ascend other vegetation. In terms of stature, it exhibits a variable height profile, with individual specimens ranging from a minimum of 0.5 m to a maximum of 1 m, resulting in an overall mean plant height of approximately 1.375 m.

Climber :

obligatory

Growth form :

herb

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height mean:

1.375 m

Plant height min:

0.5 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiological profile of Solanum lyratum is characterized by specific morphological dimensions of its foliage and its metabolic nitrogen processes. The leaves exhibit significant variability in size, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 3.5 cm to a maximum of 5.5 cm, maintaining an average leaf length of approximately 4.5 cm. In terms of lateral expansion, the leaf width fluctuates between a minimum of 2.5 cm and a maximum of 4.8 cm. Regarding its nutrient acquisition strategies, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic biological mechanisms required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms and must instead rely on the uptake of nitrogenous compounds present in the soil.

Leaf length max:

5.5 cm

Leaf length mean:

4.5 cm

Leaf length min:

3.5 cm

Leaf width max:

4.8 cm

Leaf width min:

2.5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Solanum lyratum is characterized by the development of small, uniform fruits and highly consistent seed properties. The fruit exhibits a perfectly spherical morphology, as indicated by its dimensions where both the mean, minimum, and maximum fruit length and fruit width are all measured at exactly 0.8 cm. This uniformity in fruit size suggests a highly stable reproductive output per fruit. Within these fruits, the seeds are remarkably consistent in their physical properties; the seed mass shows no variance, with the minimum, mean, and maximum values all recorded at 0.00094 g. This precision in both fruit dimensions and seed mass highlights a specialized reproductive strategy focused on consistent, small-scale dispersal units.

Fruit length max:

0.8 cm

Fruit width max:

0.8 cm

Seed mass mean:

0.00094 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Solanum lyratum has 24 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Aspidistrin, BETA-SITOSTEROL, DRG, Daidzin, Degalactotigonin.

Aspidistrin

1. Chinese journal of natural medicines

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

DRG

1. Natural product research

Daidzin

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Degalactotigonin

1. Chinese journal of natural medicines

Desglucolanatigonin II

1. Chinese journal of natural medicines

ESL

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Friedelin

1. Natural product research

Funkioside D

1. Chinese journal of natural medicines

Lignoceric acid

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Conditions

Solanum lyratum has 4 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include tumor, Hela cells, cancer, eczema.

Tumor

1. Biomaterials advances
2. Natural product research

Hela cells

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Cancer

1. Journal of Zhejiang University. Science. B

Eczema

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Preparations

Solanum lyratum has 4 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include 95% alcohol extract, Dried whole herbs of Solanum lyratum were extracted by boiling distilled water, SL-BN, ethanol extracts.

95% alcohol extract

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Dried whole herbs of solanum lyratum were extracted by boiling distilled water

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Sl-bn

1. Biomaterials advances

Ethanol extracts

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica