- Reference
- Kew Bull. 41:435 (1986)
- Conservation Code
- Not threatened
- Naturalised Status
- Alien to Western Australia
- Name Status
- Current
Shrub, 0.6-1.6 m high. Fl. blue-purple, Jan or Mar or May or Aug or Oct. Weed of pastures & roadsides.
Distribution
- IBRA Regions
- Avon Wheatbelt, Geraldton Sandplains, Jarrah Forest, Swan Coastal Plain, Warren.
- IBRA Subregions
- Geraldton Hills, Katanning, Northern Jarrah Forest, Perth, Southern Jarrah Forest, Warren.
- IMCRA Regions
- Central West Coast, Leeuwin-Naturaliste.
- Local Government Areas (LGAs)
- Armadale, Augusta Margaret River, Busselton, Cockburn, Collie, Cottesloe, Dardanup, Gosnells, Greater Geraldton, Harvey, Melville, Moora, Nannup, Perth, Rockingham, Serpentine-Jarrahdale, Stirling, Swan, Wanneroo, Waroona.
Management Notes (for the Swan NRM Region)
General Biology. Growth form. Shrub. Reproduction. This species reproduces only by seed. Produces approximately 300 berries per plant with 50 seeds per berry resulting in 1,500 seeds per plant.. Dispersal. Fruit may be dragged significant distances when the prickly stems become attached to animals or machinery.. Seedbank persistence. Persistence unknown most seed appears to germinate within a year or two of production..
Notes. Upright or spreading shrub usually growing up to 1.5 m tall. The stems, leaf stalks, both leaf surfaces and flower stalks are all usually armed with stout prickles or spines (3-15 mm long). Alternately arranged leaves (2.5-15 cm long) are usually deeply lobed. Star-shaped purple flowers (15-35 mm across) have five petals. Globular berries (20-35 mm in size) are green with paler green or whitish mottling when young, and turn bright yellow when mature. Does not flower or fruit til 2nd year of growth..
Additional information. Origin. Native to southern Africa.. Similar exotic species. Solanum cinereum and Solanum capsicoides..
Suggested method of management and control. Manually remove and burn isolated plants. Triclopyr (600g/L) Garlon 600® I Cut stump 1L/30L biodiesel or diesel Foliar spray with glyphosate or triclopyr during Autumn and Spring. Read the manufacturers' labels and material safety data sheets before using herbicides. For further information consult the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority to determine the status of permits for your situation or state.
Management Calendar
| Calendar Type | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flowering | Y | Y | Y | Y | |||||||||
| Fruiting | Y | Y | Y | ||||||||||
| Germination | Y | Y | Y | ||||||||||
| Dormant | Y | Y | Y | ||||||||||
| Manual Removal | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| Herbicide Treatment | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
Legend: Y = Yes, regularly, O = Occasionally, U = Uncertain, referred by others but not confirmed.
References
- Agriculture Victoria (2017) Apple of Sodom. Victorian Government. URL: http://agriculture.vic.gov.au/agriculture/pests-diseases-and-weeds/weeds/a-z-of-weeds/apple-of-sodom - Accessed May 2019.
- Goola To Wellington Local Action Planning Association Inc. () Managing Revegetation Handbook. Government of South Australia. URL: https://www.coorong.sa.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/Managing%20Revegetation%20Handbook.pdf - Accessed May 2019.
- Government of South Australia (2015) Declared Plant Policy. Government of South Australia URL: https://www.pir.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/234583/Apple-of-Sodom.pdf - Accessed May 2019.
- PIRSA (2017) Weed Control Handbook for Declared Plants in South Australia July 2017 Edition. South Australian Government URL: https://pir.sa.gov.au/biosecurity/weeds_and_pest_animals/weeds_in_sa - Accessed May 2019.
- Queensland Government (2016) Weeds of Australia. Identic Pty Ltd for Biosecurity Queensland URL: https://keyserver.lucidcentral.org/weeds/data/media/Html/solanum_linnaeanum.htm - Accessed May 2019.