Solanum retroflexum

{{Short description|Species of shrub}} {{Speciesbox | image = Solanum retroflexum burbankii wonderberry sunberry.jpg | image_caption = Flowers and unripe fruit of ''Solanum retroflexum'' | genus = Solanum | species = retroflexum | authority = Dunal | synonyms = ''Solanum'' × ''burbankii''<br/> ''Solanum melanocerasum''<br/> | synonyms_ref = <ref name=GRIN /> }}

'''''Solanum retroflexum''''', commonly known as '''{{lang|zu|umsobo}}''' (isiZulu), '''wonderberry'''<ref name=GRIN/> or '''sunberry''',<ref name=GRIN/> is a historic heirloom fruiting shrub. Both common names are also used for the European black nightshade (''Solanum nigrum'') in some places, particularly where the latter species has been introduced, so care must be taken to distinguish them. It is sometimes called garden huckleberry, but that properly refers to the species ''S. scabrum'' described by Philip Miller.

The plant produces diminutive, dark blue-purple edible fruits that are bland in flavor and often combined with sugar in desserts. Green (unripe) fruits may be poisonous.{{Citation needed|date=October 2011}}

==Description== Plants are compact, typically growing to a height of {{cvt|12-24|in|cm}}, and may fruit at sizes as small as {{cvt|4|in|cm}}. The plant produces diminutive, dark blue-purple edible fruits. Green (unripe) fruits may be poisonous.{{Citation needed|date=October 2011}}

==Taxonomy== Its old scientific name{{cn|date=July 2024}} that is still often seen, '''''Solanum × burbankii''''', indicates a plant of hybrid origin. It was supposedly bred by Luther Burbank in the early 1900s as a hybrid of ''S. villosum'' and ''S. guineense''{{r|yearbook}} but in fact ''S. retroflexum'' is a proper species of its own, while the supposed hybrid combination would not be viable due to different ploidy of ''S. guineense'' and ''S. villosum''.

===Phylogeny=== Phylogenetic research suggests ''S. retroflexum''{{'s}} closest living relatives to be garden huckleberry (''S. scabrum''), golden pearls (''S. villosum''), and ''S. annuum'' in order of recency of deviation.{{r|opentree23.07jul}}

The following phylogenetic tree is suggested:{{r|opentree23.07jul}}

{{clade|1={{clade|label1=''Solanum''|1=

{{clade |2={{clade |1={{clade |1={{clade |1={{clade |1={{clade |1={{clade |1={{clade |1=''S. ptychanthum'' ('''black nightshade''') — North America, South America |2=''S. tredecimgranum'' }} |2={{clade |1=''S. americanum'' ('''glossy nightshade''') — Americas, Melanesia, New Guinea, and Australia |2=''S. nigrum'' ('''European nightshade''') — Europe, Asia, Macaronesia, and the North Africa }} }} |2=''S. opacum'' ('''greenberry nightshade''' or '''morelle verte''') — Taiwan to New Zealand and Pacific |3=''S. chenopodioides'' ('''whitetip nightshade''') — Argentina to Peru }} |2={{clade |1={{clade |1={{clade |1=''S. scabrum'' ('''garden huckleberry''' or '''{{lang|sw|mnavu}}''') — Africa, Indian Ocean |2=''S. retroflexum'' }} |2=''S. villosum'' ('''hairy nightshade''', '''golden pearls''') — Euro-Siberian, Irano-Turanian and Mediterranean regions worldwide }} |2=''S. annuum'' (Bolivia to Northern Argentina) }} }} |2={{clade |1=''S. fiebrigii'' (Peru to NW Argentina) |2=''S. enantiophyllanthum'' (SE Brazil) }} }} |2=''S. pallidum'' (Bolivia, Peru) }} |2=''S. physalifolium'' ('''hoe nightshade''') — NW Argentina, Bolivia, Peru }} |1= (1,225 other ''Solanum'' species) }}

|2=''Jaltomata'' (73 species)}}}}

==Cultivation== The wonderberry shrub is an easy-to-grow plant which is grown similarly to tomatoes. Seeds are sown in the summer in full or part sun. Fruit can be expected in 75 days.

==References== <references>

<ref name=GRIN> {{GRIN |id=404900 |access-date=2008-09-29 |name=''Solanum retroflexum'' Dunal}} </ref>

<ref name="opentree23.07jul"> {{cite web |access-date= 2023-04-02 |title=Solanum retroflexum - opentree |url=https://tree.opentreeoflife.org/opentree/opentree14.7@ott3869835/Solanum-retroflexum |website= Open Tree of Life }} </ref>

<ref name=yearbook> {{cite book|title=Year Book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IGhZAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA176|access-date=27 March 2012|volume=6|year=1907|publisher=Carnegie Institution of Washington|page=176}} </ref>

</references>

retroflexum Category:Edible Solanaceae Category:Berries