Solanum schumanninaum in the dark shady forest near Lulando has the long purple bristles I have seen on herbarium specimens. Similar plants growing in the sun do not have those bristles. Maybe it is an effect of the sun, but I have only seen a few individuals so it is difficult to judge – possibly they are different species. We have also found the spiny climber Solanum burtt-davyi today, very productive day.
I am impressed by the system of local counsel governance here. For every small council area six councillors are elected, and two of them must be female. The female governor of Lulando village helped us organise the trip to find Solanum burtt-davyi. If you are employed by a government organisation in Tanzania, you are automatically entitled to loans from the government, and your workplace pays for holiday tickets back to your local village - for you as well as all your family.
Solanum schumannianum has long purple bristles when it grows under forest canopy, but the individuals we have seen outside forests don’t have any bristles.
Frank pulled down the long liana Solanum burtt-davyi. The hooked prickles stay in your fingers, and the plant uses these prickles to hold on to other vegetation as it climbs.
