The Relationships of Solanum cochoae (Solanaceae), a New Species from Peru

The genus Solanum, with nearly 3,500 epithets, is second only to Senecio in size, and its species are notoriously variable (Correll, 1962). Growing appreciation for intraspecific variation has helped make recognition of species boundaries more realistic to the point that only about one-half of the species that have been described are now accepted (D'Arcy, 1979). This daunting diversity and variability gives one pause in describing a new species. Thus, we have grown and studied the subject of this paper for some time; we are now convinced it deserves recognition as a distinct species. The diagnosis and description of this new species follows the discussion of its systematic uniqueness and relationship.