S.AfrJ.Bot., 1990,56(6): 645-647 645 New records of alien weeds in the eastern Cape

P.B. Phillipson Department of Botany, Rhodes University, P.O. Box 94, Grahamstown, 6140 Republic of South Africa

Accepted 24 August 1990

The distributions of three exotic weed species in southern Africa are discussed. One species, Solanum sarra­ choides Sendtner has never before been recorded in southern Africa, but is now known to occur in two localities, one in the eastern Cape and the other in the Transkei. The other two species, Rubus phoenicolasius Maxim. and reflexa Hornem. are known to be problem in some parts of southern Africa. Both species have recently been discovered in the eastern Cape, a long way from previously recorded localities. These new records show that the three species are more widely distributed than was believed, and suggest that S. reflexa, at least, may be spreading rapidly in suitable habitats.

Die verspreiding van drie uitheemse onkruidspesies wat in Suid-Afrika voorkom, word bespreek. Een van die spesies, Solanum sarrachoidesSendter, is nog nooit voorheen in suidelike Afrika aangeteken nie, maar twee lokaliteite waar dit voorkom, is tans bekend: een in die Oos-Kaap en die ander in Transkei. Die ander twee spesies, Rubus phoenicolasius Maxim. en Salvia reflexa Hornem., is bekend as probleemplante in sekere dele van suidelike Afrika. Albei spesies is onlangs in die Oos-Kaap ontdek, baie ver van lokaliteite wat voorheen aangeteken is. Dit toon dat die drie spesies 'n wyer verspreiding het as wat vroeer aanvaar is en dit wil voorkom of S. reflexavinnig na geskikte habitats versprei.

Keywords: Alien, problem , Rubus, Salvia, Solanum

Introduction (November 1984) been collected on the Hogsback Pass in the In the course of collecting and identifying plants from the Amatole Mountains, about 450 km to the south-west of the Amatole Mountains in the Winterberg Range and neighbour­ previous records, where it was well-established on a roadside ing areas of SE Africa, three alien species bank in dense indigenous forest. The plants, like those from were discovered that had not previously been recorded in this Natal, are presumed to be garden escapes, probably origin­ region. Since these species are known to become problem ating from the nearby Hogsback settlement. Wells et al. plants in other regions, the new distribution records are (1986) list R. phoenicolasius as a problem plant in southern discussed in detail below. Africa, citing numerous undesirable characteristics. The most likely harmful effect of the plant is competition with Rubus phoenicolasius Maxim. indigenous forest species and their eventual suppression. The plants recorded appeared to be free from the necrotic viral Rubus phoenicolasius Maxim. is indigenous to Japan, North disease noted by Stirton (1981) on the plants from Natal. Its Korea, South Korea and northern China, and has been known distribution in southern Africa is given in Figure 1. recorded as an alien in Natal (Stirton 1981). It has recently Voucher specimen -3226 (Fort Beaufort) Hogsback Pass, Amatole Mountains (-DB), Phillipson 937 (K, MO, PRE, UFH).

Salvia reflexa Hornem. Salvia reflexa Hornem. is indigenous in the United States of America and Mexico (Codd 1985). Since the first record of the plant in the Transvaal in 1971 it appears to have spread rapidly in southern Africa (Codd 1985). It has been recorded from the Witwatersrand, Pretoria and Rustenburg districts (Codd 1985) and has also been recorded 400 krn further south in Lesotho (phillipson unpublished). The species has recently (March 1986) been collected near Alice in the Ciskei, a further 400 krn south. Some plants, like the previous collec­ tions, were growing on waste ground, where they were locally abundant and fruiting prolifically. Others were also found growing in nearby severely over-grazed grassland. Wells et al. (1986) list S. reflexa as a problem plant that can Figure 1 Distribution of Rubus phoenicolasius in southern replace natural vegetation through competition. Its known Africa, - new record, 0 from Stirton 1981. distribution in southern Africa is given in Figure 2. S.-Afr.Tydskr. Plantk., 1990,56(6)

,.. ". ". ". ". ". ". ,.. ,.. ,.. 30' ". =' 1 f--I--- 17 T ". - v \ I ". I / -'" I, .,. '0' \ I --Z ~ '---- f- ". I ,-- ~-( ~ ?2. II ,/ ,.. \ ,.. \ ./ ~ 1-) ---I 1 r ,.. l v -- - ". - , -- --~ r--t--- \\ , ,.. ,.. 1'< 1"- Ie :..r,- !/ [7 I> Ip;;( ,.. ,\ -- ---6- ~1; / 30' 'V> ,,(1 / ". ) V ". 1\ f--V ,.. J'l..- V ~ ,,' ". ". ". ". ". .0' .r ,.. ,.. ". 30' 3r ". JO'

Figure 2 Distribution of Salvia reflexa in southern Africa, - new Figure 3 Distribution of Solanum sarrachoides In southern record, 0 from Codd 1985. Africa.

Voucher specimens below are the only certain records of S. sarrachoides in -2927 (Maseru) Bushman's Pass, Lesotho (-BD), Phillipson 1361 Africa. The two collections cited are from localities about (MO, PRE, UFH). 150 km apart and it is impossible to know how widely the -3226 (Fort Beaufort) Gqumahashe, near Alice (-DO), Phillipson species has become naturalized, or how it was introduced. In 1356 (K, MO, PRE, UFH, UPS). one locality (Elandsberg), S. sarrachoides was well estab­ lished in a grazed paddock in the company of two other Solanum sarrachoides Sendtner species of the S. nigrum complex (S. burbankii Bitter and S. Plants belonging to the Solanum nigrum L. species complex retroflexum Dunal). The three species were clearly distinct are widespread in southern Africa. They include both and S. sarrachoides would not be expected to be able to introduced cosmopolitan weeds and species thought to be hybridize with the other two species (Edmonds pers. indigenous. Unfortunately little taxonomic work has been comm.). done on these plants in the region and they are in need of Solanum sarrachoides can be distinguished from other thorough revision. Solanum sarrachoides Sendtner is closely southern African material by its strongly aromatic stems and related to S. nigrum, but is a very distinctive species. Plants leaves which are glandular hairy and very sticky when fresh, of this species were collected recently (March 1986) on by its broadly triangular corolla lobes, and by its green berries Elandsberg in the Amatole Mountains and it was listed by enclosed in enlarged calyces with sepals ultimately at least Phillipson (1987) in a species checklist. Jaeger (1985) reports 5 mm long. that this species is widespread across tropical Africa, The second collection cited below was reported to be used although the species has never before been recorded for as a wild food plant by Xhosa people, which was said to have southern Africa. However S. sarrachoides has often been edible shoots and fruits. However it is likely that the confused with S. physalifolium var. nitidibaccatum in the past specimen was confused with S. retroflexum which is often (Edmonds 1986) and it seems likely that Jaeger may have eaten in this region. made this mistake. Jaeger's description of S. sarrachoides (in Solanum sarrachoides is also naturalized in many tropical Africa) does not agrees with Edmonds' description of European countries and in the United States of America, the species. Since the plant is new to the flora of at least where it can become a successful and persistent weed southern Africa, an account of it is given below. (Edmonds 1986). The known distribution of the species in southern Africa is shown in Figure 3. Solanum sarrachoides Sendtner in Martius, Flora brasiliensis, 10: 18 (1846) [pro parte pro planta Uruguayensi Voucher specimens (Bitter 1912)] . -3226 (Fort Beaufort) Amatole Mountains, Elandsberg, (-DB), TYPUS.-Brazil, Sellow s.n. (P, lectotypus) (Edmonds 1986). Phillipson 1353 (K, MO, PRE, UFH). -3228 (Butterworth) Transkei, Butterworth, Tobotshane loc., A full description and illustration of S. sarrachoides a'ld a (-AC), Nongenile. sub Rose & Bishop 802 (UFH). discussion of its are given by Edmonds (1986), and her list of synonyms need not be repeated here. None of these Acknowledgements names appear to have been used for African material. A I am grateful to J.E. Edmonds and C.H. Stirton, with whom I search for more material of the species in other relevent have discussed the plants mentioned above, to the anonymous herbaria has been unsuccessful and the specimens cited referees for their constructive comments and to M. WeIman S.AfrJ.Bot., 1990,56(6) 647

for assistance in obtaining copies of parts of Jaeger's thesis. I Sendtner and S. physalifolium Rusby (S. nitidibaccatum also wish to thank the Directors and Curators of E, GRA, K, Bitter). Bot. 1. Linn. Soc. 92: 1-38. KEI, PRE and UFH for pennission to consult their JAEGER, P-M.L. 1985. Systematic studies in the genus Solanum collections. in Africa. Ph.D. thesis, Univ. of Birmingham. MARTIUS, C.F.P. von. 1846. Flora Brasiliensis. Vol. 10. PHILliPSON, P.B. 1987. A checklist of vascular plants of the References Amatole Mountains, eastern Cape Province/Ciskei. Bothalia BITIER, G. 1912. Solana nova vel minus cognita. III. Feddes 17: 237-256. Reperlorium specierum novarum regni vegelabilis 11: STIRTON, C.H. 1981. New reords of naturalized Rubus in 208-210. southern Africa. Bothalia 13: 333-337. CODD, L.E. 1985. . In : Flora of southern Africa, ed. WELLS, MJ., BALSINHAS, P.A., JOFFE, H., Leistner, O.A., Vol. 28, Part 4, Botanical Research Institute, ENGELBRECHT, V.M., HARDING G. & STIRTON, C.H. Pretoria. 1986. A catalogue of problem plants in southern Africa. Mem. EDMONDS, J.E. 1986. Biosystematics of Solanum sarrachoides Bot. Surv. S. Afr. 53.