Synonymy
Lycianthes rantonnetii (Carrière) Bitter, Abh. Naturwiss. Vereine Bremen 24: 332 (1920). Solanum rantonnetii Carrière, Rev. Hort. 135, t.32 (1859); originally as rantonnei.
T: "Il y a environs dix and qu'un officier de marine, ayant rapporté des graines qu'il avait recuilles aux environs de la Plata, les donna à un horticulteur de Toulon ..." Quoted from Australian Plant Name Index where there is also a discussion of the correct spelling of the epithet. This is also discussed on the Solanaceae Source where the explanation is given for why "rantonnetii" is the correct form of the name honouring Rantonnet.
Description
Arching or sprawling shrub 2-3 m high, green; glabrous except for simple or branched hairs on underside of leaves; prickles absent. Stems somewhat angular, sparsely striate.
Leaves sometimes geminate, elliptic; lamina to 10 cm long, 5 cm wide, concolorous, entire, base cuneate, apex acute or acuminate; petiole 0.5-1.5 cm long, winged in upper part by extension of lamina base.
Inflorescence axillary, sub-umbellate cluster of 2-5 somewhat zygomorphic flowers; pedicels 15-25 mm long. Calyx 4–5 mm long; lobes 2 mm long, linear, 5 well-developed with secondary lobe sometimes developing between to give 10-lobed effect. Corolla rotate, 20–30 mm diam., bright blue, upper 3 lobes with yellow patch at base. Anthers unequal, upper pair slightly smaller, c. 3 mm long, oblong.
Berry (not seen) reported as sub-globose-ellipsoid with cordate base, 27–30 mm long, yellow. Seed c. 2.5 mm long, dark brown. Stone cells numerous, c. 1.5 mm wide. n=24.
