Taxon Report

Solanum wallacei (Gray) Parish

Wallace's nightshade

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Solanum wallacei, commonly known as Wallace's nightshade, is a perennial herb in the Solanaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Chaparral, and Cismontane woodland, growing at elevations from 3 to 410 meters. Solanum wallacei is ranked 1B.1, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Seriously threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Solanum wallacei (Gray) Parish
Common Name:	Wallace's nightshade
Family:	Solanaceae
Element Code:	PDSOL0Z280
USDA Plants Symbol:	SOWA
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	perennial herb
Blooming Period: Mar-Aug	Mar-Aug
Elevation:	3-410 (10-1345)
General Habitats:	Chaparral, Cismontane woodland
Microhabitat:	Rocky
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.1
Global Rank:	G3Q
State Rank:	S2
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:	SB_CalBG/RSABG
CRPR Changes:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	12
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	0
Good (B)	0
Fair (C)	0
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	12

Location


California Endemic: False
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Los Angeles (LAX)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Santa Catalina East (3311833), Santa Catalina North (3311844), Santa Catalina South (3311834)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	2
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	1	8 %
Grazing	1	8%
Non-native animal impacts	1	8%

Notes



Threatened by feral herbivores. Occurrences reported from the mainland (SBA and SLO counties) need further study but are probably S. xanti. Plants from GU Isl. may be distinct, perhaps at the varietal level. S. xanti complex needs taxonomic study. See Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences 11:91 (1876) for original description, and Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences III(2):166 (1901) for revised nomenclature.
Threats:

Taxonomy:

Selected References

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 25 April 2025].