Whilst rotating through the full 360 degrees, and admiring/photographing splendid vistas in every direction, one should also pay attention to whatever is immediately in front of one’s feet…
You are now looking at a flower – and some of its “weaponry”.
It is one of many “bush tomato” species which thrive across much of arid and semi-arid Australia.
Some have other common names, most notably “kutjera”, “desert raisin” and “kangaroo apple”.
All are members of the large genus Solanum, which includes many (not all) members of the nightshade family, including the ones most famously-edible to humans – tomatoes, eggplants and potatoes.
Circa 130 of them grow “wild” in Australia; circa 100 of those species are “natives”.
At least 8 of them bear fruits that Australian humans have eaten for many thousands of years.
Many more species are not safe to eat; some are highly toxic.
If you do not know exactly which “bush tomato” you are looking at, you should not “try” its fruit.
The pictured example is endemic to Australia. (am 99% certain)
Click here to discover more.
Photo is copyright Doug Spencer; it was taken at 3. 39 pm on 05 June 2023, atop Stokes Hill, in the Flinders Ranges
Comments