Solanum is the type genus of the family Solanaceae, which
contains such well-known economic plants as the potato, tomato,
tobacco, egg plant (aubergine) and many more. In Australia there
are 117 species, of which 87 are endemic. Solanum laciniatum or
Kangaroo Apple, a common name shared with the closely related S.
aviculare, occurs in temperate regions of New South Wales, the
Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, South Australia,
Tasmania, New Zealand and associated islands on a range of soil
types. It forms a large shrub 4 m high by 5 m wide. Solanum
laciniatum produces two types of foliage: large lance-shaped or
irregularly lobed juvenile leaves 300 mm long by 250 mm wide and
smaller generally entire lance-shaped adult leaves 150 mm long
by about 30-50 mm wide. Both types of leaf are a rich dark green
on the upper surface, and a lighter green underneath, with
conspicuous veins. They are held on dark green succulent stems,
which turn black, then a rough light-brown, with age. The
5-petalled flowers are 30-