Rejalgadera (Solanum vespertilio)

Rather branched, woody shrub that can reach up to 1.5-2 m tall. Branches firm, with spines. Leaves are cordate, ovate or ovate-rhomboidal, 8-15 cm long, dark green on top, light green and felted beneath. Flowers are terminal, dark lilac or purple-blue. Fruits are tomato-like, initially green, becoming orangey when ripe, rounded, 1.5-2 cm across. This species is native to the two central islands, Tenerife (subspecies S. verspertilio) and Gran Canaria (subspecies S. doramae). Found from 400-900 m, in thermophile vegetation and evergreen woodland, generally growing in sunny forest clearings. The nominate species is distributed over the massifs of Anaga and Teno, in communities of numerous specimens, while S. doramae is far less common with only a few wild specimens relegated to a single location in north Gran Canaria. The entire distribution area of this species barely covers 5 km2; it has therefore been classified as Critically Endangered.