solulimasta

Solulimasta is a genus of flowering plants in the family Solanaceae. It comprises two described species, Solulimasta arenosa and Solulimasta nocturna. The genus was first described in 1987 by botanists Elena Rivera and Ming Chen.

Description

Solulimasta species are herbaceous plants, annual or short-lived perennials, typically reaching 15–60 cm in height. Stems are slender and branching; leaves are alternate, simple, with entire margins. The inflorescences are terminal or axillary; flowers have a tubular five-lobed corolla and a five-part calyx. The fruit is a berry that ripens to dark purple or black. Pollination is primarily by bees, with nocturnal flowering in Solulimasta nocturna suggesting moths as additional pollinators.

Distribution and habitat

The genus is native to arid and semi-arid regions of the southern hemisphere. Solulimasta arenosa is associated with sandy coastal dunes and dry plains, while Solulimasta nocturna occurs in dry savannas and rocky habitats in tropical regions of Africa and the Americas.

Taxonomy and etymology

Solulimasta is placed in Solanaceae and is distinguished by its reduced prickles and distinctive floral morphology. The name combines Latin solum, meaning soil, with a suffix common to plant genera, reflecting an affinity for soil-rich habitats.

Ecology and conservation

There are no wide commercial uses recorded for the genus. Some populations are locally threatened by habitat loss and overgrazing, and conservation status has not been comprehensively assessed.

See also

Solanaceae.