Solanum conocarpum is a thornless and
flowering plant. It is a
perennial shrub that is endemic to the Virgin Islands. For some time, the species was considered endemic to
U.S. Virgin Islands Dry Forest on the island of
St. John. However, recent work in 2018 discovered a small population on neighboring
Tortola, in the
British Virgin Islands. Despite this range extension, the species has a low number of reproductive adults and low recruitment: it remains listed as
Endangered by the
IUCN Red List.
Solanum conocarpum can reach up to nine feet high and is found in dry,
deciduous forests. This shrub grows up to about 3 meters with a grey-colored bark, elliptical shaped leaves about 2 cm long and with an orange midrib, and lavender-colored flowers. Individuals are
dioecious, each only having flowers of one sex. Flowering is typically induced by rain events. ==References==