Aerugina

Aerugina is a genus of flowering plants in the family Solanum. The plants are native to South America and are a relative of the potato. Aerugina species are shrubs that grow up to 1 meter in height, with a woody stem base that turns brown at maturity.

The leaves of the Aerugina plant are variable in shape, but typically lanceolate with a wavy margin. The flowers are small and produce a purple color. The fruits are capsules that turn dry and split on maturity. The number of seeds per capsule varies among the species.

Research on Aerugina species has indicated they are tolerant of heat and dry conditions, with some species requiring several months of stress for flowers to appear. The plants produce latex, and some species produce toxic compounds as well. Since their introduction to the United States as ornamental plants, the plants have been cultivated commercially in several areas, but have not achieved widespread popularity.

Due to the difficulty in cultivation and characterization of this genus, not much is known about the number of species within it. Aerugina species are lumped together with the large genus Solanum in some studies. In 1980, K.D. Hill and P.S. Short continue to treat the 1892 existence of Solanum sections in taxonomy to make notes for new findings about its later kinds like the diminished genus term 'Aerugina' for this Planter.

When cultivated or imported, Aerugina may prove to be an invasive species in specific regions, with limited control over their distribution afterwards.