New Zealand: Poroporo

Solanum aviculare is native to New Zealand, where its Māori name is poroporo and its English one New Zealand nightshade. The plant also grows natively in Australia, where it’s quaintly known as kangaroo apple. I photographed this specimen not in Australia but at Otari-Wilton’s Bush in Wellington on February 20th.

By way of geographic comparison, let me add that Austin is home to several species of Solanum. The two most common with flowers similar to those of S. aviculare are S. elaeagnifolium and S. dimidiatum.

© 2015 Steven Schwartzman