Solanum allophyllum (Miers) Standl. and the generic delimitation of Cyphomandra and Solanum (Solanaceae)

Solanum allophyllum has previously been placed in Cyphomandra and in Solarium. This species has a number of morphological features not found in Cyphomandra, but has been included in the genus because it has a similar growth habit, three-leaved sympodial units with inflorescences in branch forks, and tapered anthers with an abaxial thickening. When each of these characters is closely examined, however, important differences are found between the taxa, indicating that the features they share may not be structurally homologous.