Solanum nelsonii explained

Solanum nelsonii^[1] (often misspelled Solanum nelsoni), common names pōpolo^[2] and Nelson's horsenettle, is a partially woody sprawling shrub-like perennial plant in the family Solanaceae, part of the Solanum or nightshade genus. This poisonous plant is endemic to the Pacific Islands. It grows low in coastal sites in coral rubble to pure sand.

Solanum nelsonii was listed as an endangered species wherever found by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on September 30, 2016.^[3] Pōpolo is used in restoration projects around the state of Hawaii and the Northwest Hawaiian Islands.

Nelson's horsenettle was first described by Michel Félix Dunal. The scientific name Solanum nelsonii has also  - invalidly  - been given to two other species of nightshade:

• S. nelsonii of Zipp. based on Span. is the S. violaceum described by Ortega.
• S. nelsonii of Correll is S. oxycarpum.

Several varieties of Nelson's horsenettle have been described, but they are not usually considered valid anymore:

• Solanum nelsonii var. acuminatum F.Br. in Christophersen & Caum

Not to be confused with S. acuminatum as described by Ruiz & Pavón Jiménez.

• Solanum nelsonii var. caumii F.Br. In Christophersen & Caum
• Solanum nelsonii var. intermedium F.Br. in Christophersen & Caum

Not to be confused with S. intermedium as described by Otto Sendtner in C.F.P. von Martius.

• Solanum nelsonii var. thomasiifolium Seem.^[4]

Not to be confused with S. thomasiifolium.

• Solanum nelsonii var. typicum F.Br. in Christophersen & Caum
• Solanum nelsonii var. vadosum H.St.John

Footnotes

• [2008]: Solanum nelsoni. Retrieved 2008-SEP-26.

Further reading

• Web site: Solanum nelsonii (popolo) From Molokai at State nursery Kahului, Maui . 23 May 2003 . Plants of Hawaii . Images by Forest & Kim Starr . bot: unknown . https://web.archive.org/web/20120812224900/http://www.hear.org/starr/images/species/?q=solanum+nelsonii&o=plants . 12 August 2012 .
• Badami S, Prakash O, Dongre SH, Suresh B . In vitro antioxidant properties of Solanum pseudocapsicum leaf extracts . Indian J Pharmacol . 37 . 4 . 251–2 . 2005 . 10.4103/0253-7613.16573 . free.
• Book: Neal L. . Evenhuis . Lucius G. . Eldredge . Natural History of Nihoa and Necker Islands . Bishop Museum Press . Bulletin in environmental and cultural studies . 2004 . 158178029X . 67–68 .
• Book: Culliney, John L. . Islands in a Far Sea: The Fate of Nature in Hawai'i . 2006 . University of Hawai'i Press . 978-0-8248-2947-6 . 147.

Notes and References

1. Book: De Candolle. Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis. 1952. 13 . 1. 123. S. NELSONI, ramis teretibus tomentosis flavo-ferrugineis, foliis ntrinque tomentosis petiolatis cordato-ovatis, subtus candicantibus subnervosis, supra ferrugineis auriculatis, racemis simplicibus suboppositifoliis folio Iongioribus.— In insulis Sandwich (David Nelson, in h. Banks). Lignosum, Petioli basi auriculati, foliis parvis, subsessilibus, ovato-orbicularibus, subcordatis, axillaribus. Pedunculi, pedicelli calycesque tomentosi, ferruginei. Flores pedicellati, cymosi. Calyx tomentosus, 5-fidus, laciniis angustis. Corolla calyce vix duplo longior, extus tomentosa. (v. s. in h. Banks, anno 1819.). Missouri Botanical Garden.
2. Web site: Native Plants Hawaii. nativeplantshawaii.edu. January 12, 2017.
3. September 30, 2016. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Endangered Status for 49 Species From the Hawaiian Islands. Federal Register. U.S. Fish and Wildlife. 81. 67786–67860. We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), determine endangered status under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended, for 10 animal species, ..., and for 39 plant species from the Hawaiian Islands. This rule adds these species to the Federal Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants..
4. Web site: ITIS Report. Integrated Taxonomic Information System. January 12, 2017.