Common Name:

General Information

Solanium agrarium is a shrub growing up to 50cm tall with stems that are much branched and sprawling[].
The leaves are sometimes gathered from the wild for local medicinal use, whilst the fruits are used in cosmetic preparations. There are conflicting reports on the edibility of the fruits.

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

Northern S. America - north-eastern Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela; Caribbean - Dutch West Indies.

Habitat

Weedy in usually dry, open soil of roadsides, waste places, cultivated land, thickets and pastures in areas with long and pronounced dry seasons[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Shrub
Height	0.50 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of mainly lowland tropical areas, though it can also be found at elevations up to 1,000 metres[]. It grows in areas with a distinct dry season[].
Probably prefers calcareous or clayey habitats but it is also reported on sandstone and sandy soil as well as in salty soils[].
Plants can flower and fruit all year round[].
Closely related to, and very similar to, Solanum stenandrum[].

Edible Uses

Fruit[46,]. The pulp is eaten[]. The black, globose fruits are 20 - 25mm in diameter[]. Reports of the fruits edibility might be in error[].

Medicinal

A decoction of the leaves is used in the treatment of gonorrhoea[].

The fruit pulp has medicinal applications[].

Other Uses

An extract of the fruit is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as an emulsifier and surfactant[].

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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