Jaltomata confinis (C. V. Morton) J. L. Gentry

All photos by Thomas Mione, 2002.

Above: Flower in pistillate phase; corolla 16 mm in diameter (Spooner et al. 7045, grown as Mione 322)

Above: Flower in hermaphroditic phase (Spooner et al. 7068, grown as Mione 326)

Above: Flower in pistillate phase; corolla 16 mm in diameter (Spooner et al. 7045, grown as Mione 322)

Above: whole plant. Note habit. The ruler shown is 12 cm long (Spooner et al. 7068, grown as Mione 326).

Above: Unripe fruit surrounded by calyx (Spooner et al. 7068, grown as Mione 326).

Above: Ripe fruit. Accession 314. Photographed August 2002.

Above: fruits of Jaltomata confinis. Accession 326. Plant grown outdoors. Note that the calyx is shaped like a shallow bowl.

Above: Abaxia face of flower. Note how wide the leaves of this species are relative to their length. The writing below the green "326" would say "ruler = 12 cm" if you could see all of it.

Specimens Photographed:

David M. Spooner et al. 7045 (grown in Connecticut, USA, as Mione 322). Guatemala, Chimaltenango: 9 km NW of Tecpán town square to microwave towers, 14 47.1 S, 91 00.8 W, 2,940 m growing among shrubs in moist organic soil in grazed upland plain. 9 October 1995. Specimens at AGUAT, BIGUA, and herbarium of T. Mione.

David M. Spooner et al. 7068 (grown in Connecticut, USA, as Mione 326). Guatemala, Huehuetenango, 6 km E of Huehuetenango to Soloma Road (9N) on road past Huito to Tuinimá, 1 km past Huito, 3,350 m, found growing under shade of tree, in area of mostly logged pine and juniper forests; plants common in area, most non-flowering, 25 October 1995. Unicate in herbarium of T. Mione.

Miscellaneous Notes:
This species abundantly sets fruit in the outdoor garden in Connecticut. During the summer of 2002 I grew several accessions, and all abundantly set fruits.
Ripe fruits accumulate on the ground below the plant. In other words, fruits do not remain attached for more than a day after ripening.