Solanum section Herpystichum includes 10 species of ground-trailing and climbing vines that root adventitiously at the nodes. Molecular data support section Herpystichum as a member of the Potato clade of Solanum. All of the species inhabit primary and secondary rainforests and occur from southern Mexico to northern Peru. The group is defined by its vining, node-rooting habit, and by its fruit structure; several species have strongly flattened fruits that are unique in Solanum. Most species of sect. Herpystichum have narrow distributions, and four species are endemic to Ecuador and one is endemic to Colombia. Moreover, they tend to be rare in the habitats where they occur and, as a result, are poorly collected and poorly known. Also, because of their restricted distributions, small numbers of populations, and habitat destruction, seven of the 10 species are considered rare and threatened. Descriptions, distribution maps, a phylogeny, photos or illustrations, and a key to the species are presented.