Common Name: African Holly

General Information

Solanum giganteum is a short-lived, softly woody, spiny shrub or small tree usually growing 2 - 4 metres tall, sometimes to 8 metres[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and in traditional medicine. It is sometimes grown to provide shade in Cardamom plantations and is often grown as an ornamental in gardens[].

Known Hazards

Although providing many well-known foods for people, including the potato, tomato, pepper and aubergine, most species in this genus also contain toxic alkaloids. Whilst these alkaloids can make the plant useful in treaing a range of medical conditions, they can also cause problems such as nausea, vomiting, salivation, drowsiness, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, weakness and respiratory depression[].
Unless there are specific entries with information on edible uses, it would be unwise to ingest any part of this plant[].

Botanical References

,

Range

Tropical Africa - Sierra Leone to Ethiopia and Somalia, south to Angola, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and S. Africa; E. Asia - India, Sri Lanka.

Habitat

Forest edges, riverine forest and among rocks on granite outcrops; at elevations from sea level to 1,650 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	4.00 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

The fruits are edible but bitter[].

The fruits are used to curdle milk[].

Medicinal

The fruits and leaves are used in African traditional medicine to treat sores[].

The woolly hairy underside of the leaves is used to clean wounds and the glabrous upper side is used to dress wounds[].
The powdered dry leaves are added to bath water to overcome sleeplessness[]

The fruits are edible but bitter and are used to treat throat ulcers[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The tree is commonly grown in S India as a shade tree in cardamom plantations[, , ].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow in trays in a nursery. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on fast. Plant them out when 10cm or more tall.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood. Very easy, the cuttings root within a couple of weeks.

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