tropical soda apple: Solanum viarum (Solanales: Solanaceae): Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States

tropical soda apple	USDA PLANTS Symbol: SOVI2 U.S. Nativity: Exotic Habit: Shrub or Subshrub
Solanum viarum Dunal

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Taxonomic Rank: Magnoliopsida: Solanales: Solanaceae
Native Range: Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay ()
Tropical soda apple is a perennial, shrubby forb that is on the Federal Noxious Weed list. Plants grow to 6 ft. (1.8 m) in height and width. Leaves are broad, 6-8 in. (15-20 cm) long, 2-6 in. (5.1-15.2 cm) wide, hairy and resemble fig or oak leaves. The entire plant is armed with ¾ in. (1.9 cm) long, straight prickles. Flowering occurs year-round, with most reproduction occurring from September to May. White, 5-petaled flowers develop, in clusters, below the leaves. Fruit are 1 in. (2.5 cm) in diameter and resemble a watermelon (a mottled mix of whitish and dark greens). Tropical soda apple primarily invades pastures, fields, and parks, but also has the potential to invade open forest and other natural areas. Tropical soda apple forms thick stands that can be impenetrable to livestock, large wildlife, and humans. Tropical soda apple is native to South America and was introduced accidentally into Florida in the 1980s.

Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources

Invasive Species Management Plans for Florida - University of Florida - Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants
Poster - Georgia Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey
Regional Tropcial Soda Apple Task Force -
Nonnative Invasive Plants of Southern Forests - USDA Forest Service
Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the Eastern United States - USDA Forest Service
Domestic Programs Pest Evaluation - USDA APHIS PPQ
Federal Noxious Weed Disseminules of the U.S. - USDA-APHIS
Weed of the Week - USDA Forest Service

Selected Images from Invasive.org

View All Images at Invasive.org

Seedling(s); Charles T. Bryson, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Seedling(s); John D. Byrd, Mississippi State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Plant(s); J. Jeffrey Mullahey, University of Florida, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Foliage; Charles T. Bryson, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Foliage; Charles T. Bryson, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Foliage; James Rollins, , Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Flower(s); flowers Charles T. Bryson, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Fruit(s); Thorny nightshade from Argentina, first appeared in the United States in pastures and rangelands in Glades County, Florida, in 1988. Mottled green fruits that look like small watermelons are a distinguising feature of the plant. J. Jeffrey Mullahey, University of Florida, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Feature(s); Flower, Fruit, Stem, and Foliage Charles T. Bryson, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Fruit(s); Mature fruit Charles T. Bryson, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Feature(s); fruit in November John W. Everest, Auburn University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Fruit(s); USDA APHIS PPQ Archive, USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Plant(s); J. Jeffrey Mullahey, University of Florida, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Infestation; In a field along with cattle Charles T. Bryson, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Plant(s); In a pasture with cattle Charles T. Bryson, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Infestation; Charles T. Bryson, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Infestation; Grows well in sun and shade and is invading tree hammocks where it prevents cattle from seeking refuge from the sun in southern pastures. J. Jeffrey Mullahey, University of Florida, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Plant(s); growing out of a bag of manure Randy Westbrooks, U.S. Geological Survey, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage

EDDMapS Distribution:
This map is incomplete and is based only on current site and county level reports made by experts and records obtained from USDA Plants Database. For more information, visit www.eddmaps.org

State(s) Where Reported invasive.
Based on state level agency and organization lists of invasive plants from WeedUS database.

Invasive Listing Sources:

Alabama Invasive Plant Council

Archbold Biological Station

Faith Campbell, 1998

Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council

Georgia Exotic Pest Plant Council

John Randall, The Nature Conservancy, Survey of TNC Preserves, 1995.

South Carolina Exotic Pest Plant Council

Tennessee Exotic Pest Plant Council