This is one of four similar species which replace one another down the Andes from Colombia to Bolivia:The other three are Solanum asteropilodes Bitter; Solanum glutinosum Dunal; and Solanum iodotrichum van Heurck & Muell. Arg.

Common Name:

General Information

Solanum crinitipes is a prickly shrub with spreading branches; it can grow around 150 - 300cm tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a source of materials. It can be used as a pioneer species when restoring native woodland in drier areas.

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

S. America - Peru, Ecuador, Colombia

Habitat

Mostly in barren or stony sites with low or disturbed vegetation, especially common in severely overgrazed places and in dump sites and vacant lots in and around cities; at elevations from 2,200 - 3,600 metres[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Shrub
Height	2.50 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

The globose, yellow or purplish berries are 12 - 15mm in diameter[]. We have seen no reports on edibility.

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is used as a living fence and is also a good species to use within its native range as a pioneer when reforesting dry areas[].

Other Uses

The fruit is used to eliminate chiggers (a type of mite that can cause severe irritation on the skin)[].

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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