Solanum asperum
Rich.
Solanaceae
Solanum callicarpifolium radula M.Gómez
Solanum canescens Rich ex Dunal
Solanum lima Banks ex Dunal
Solanum radula Vahl
Solanum radulanum St.-Lag.
Solanum salviifolium Dunal
Common Name: Boboro
General Information
Solanum asperum is a shrub or a small tree growing around 1 - 6 metres tall. The bole can be around 5cm in diameter[
435- Title
- Solanaceae Source
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://solanaceaesource.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Incredible detail on all the species in Solanum (now also including the Tomatoes which were formerly in Lycopersicon). The site will eventually include all other Genera within the Solanaceae.
],
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food.
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[
293- Title
- Poisonous Plants of North Carolina
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/poison/poison.htm
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent concise but comprehensive guide to toxic plants that grow in N. Carolina. It lists even those plants that are of very low toxicity, including several well-known food plants such as carrots and potatoes.
].
Unless there are specific entries with information on edible uses, it would be unwise to ingest any part of this plant[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Botanical References
435- Title
- Solanaceae Source
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://solanaceaesource.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Incredible detail on all the species in Solanum (now also including the Tomatoes which were formerly in Lycopersicon). The site will eventually include all other Genera within the Solanaceae.
Range
S. America - Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guyanas; C. America - Panama; Caribbean - Trinidad; N. America southern and central Mexico
Habitat
Occasional to common in secondary growth thickets of humid lowland tropical forests, usually near the coast or inland along major rivers: at elevations up to 1,000 metres[
435- Title
- Solanaceae Source
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://solanaceaesource.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Incredible detail on all the species in Solanum (now also including the Tomatoes which were formerly in Lycopersicon). The site will eventually include all other Genera within the Solanaceae.
].
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Habit | Tree |
| Height | 4.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Not known
Edible Uses
Fruit[
1438- Title
- Food Plants in the Americas: A Survey of the Domesticated, Cultivated, and Wild Plants Used for Human Food in North,
- Publication
-
- Author
- Kermath B.M.; Bennett B.C.' Pulsipher L.M.
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2014
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A pre-publication draft of an amazing, on-going work first started in 1985. It contains information on more than 3,900 taxa from the Americas - from Arctic regions to the Tropics
]. The fruit is a yellow, globose, fleshy berry around 8 - 10mm in diameter[
435- Title
- Solanaceae Source
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://solanaceaesource.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Incredible detail on all the species in Solanum (now also including the Tomatoes which were formerly in Lycopersicon). The site will eventually include all other Genera within the Solanaceae.
].
Medicinal
None known
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.
If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.
Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
