View source for Solanum mauritianum

{{SPlantbox
|familia=Solanaceae
|genus=Solanum
|species=mauritianum
|common_name=Tree tobacco, Wild tobacco
|name_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|habit=shrub
|habit_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|Min ht box=6
|Min ht metric=ft
|Max ht box=10
|Max ht metric=ft
|height_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|Min wd box=6
|Min wd metric=ft
|Max wd box=10
|Max wd metric=ft
|width_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|poisonous=All parts
|lifespan=perennial
|life_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|exposure=sun
|sun_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|features=flowers, naturalizes, invasive, foliage
|flowers=blue, purple
|Temp Metric=°F
|min_zone=10
|usda_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|max_zone=12
|image=Solanum mauritianum.jpg
|image_width=200
}}
'''''Solanum mauritianum''''' is a small [[tree]] or [[shrub]] native to [[South America]], including Northern [[Argentina]], Southern [[Brazil]], [[Paraguay]] and [[Uruguay]].<ref name=Olckersa>Olckersa, T., Zimmermann, H.G., "Biological control of silverleaf nightshade, Solanum elaegnifolium, and bugweed, Solanum mauritianum, (Solanaceae) in South Africa", ''[[Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment]]'',
Vol. 37, Issues 1-3, October 1991, Pages 137-155[http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T3Y-48XKS8M-H9&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_searchStrId=994810849&_rerunOrigin=google&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=61f7f8a61437859ad366194b754b58b3]</ref> It has become a widespread invasive [[weed]] in many countries.<ref name=Database>''Solanum Mauritianum'' Weed Profile, Global Invasive Species Database[http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=209&fr=1&sts=〈=EN]</ref> Its common names include '''Woolly Nightshade''', '''Ear-leaved Nightshade''' (or "earleaf nightshade"), '''Flannel Weed''', '''Bugweed''', '''Tobacco Weed''', '''Tobacco Bush''', '''Wild Tobacco''' and '''Kerosene Plant'''.

The plant has a life of up to thirty years, and can grow up to {{convert|10|m|ft|abbr=on}} tall.  Its large oval leaves are grey-green in color and covered with felt-like hairs. The flower is purple with a yellow center. The plant can [[flower]] year round but fruiting occurs in late spring to early summer. It is tolerant of many [[soil]] types and quickly becomes established around [[plantation]]s, forest margins, scrub and open land.