Cockroach berry (Solanum capsicoides)

Cockroach berry (Solanum capsicoides) is a species of plant in the Solanaceae, low shrub, stems and leaves have thorns, white star flowers, round fruit, grows in forests, agricultural land and roadsides.

S. capsicoides has erect stems, cylindrical, green or reddish, hairy, full of large and sharp spines. The leaves have long stalks, five pointed ends, thick, shiny green, hairy, a large vein in the middle and many small pinnate veins, both sides have large and sharp spines.

The flowers are star-shaped, have a stalk, five ears are white, the middle is yellow and conical. The fruit is perfectly spherical, young bright green with dark streaks, ripe bright red and has a long stalk.

Cockroach berry grows in forests, farmlands, roadsides, waterways, open and shady places, solitary or small groups.

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Subphylum: Angiospermae
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Solanales
Family: Solanaceae
Subfamily: Solanoideae
Tribe: Solaneae
Genus: Solanum
Species: Solanum capsicoides

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