Solanum conocarpum
Solanum conocarpum, commonly known as marron bacoba, is a vascular plant species in the family Solanaceae found in the US Virgin Islands and British Virgin Islands.
Description
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.