Common Name: Jurubeba

General Information

Solanum crinitum is a shrub or a small tree that can grow around 2 - 5 metres tall. The plant is armed with straight, sharp thorns up to 10mm long[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine. It is a natural pioneer species, establishing in open places and providing a suitable habitat for rainforest trees to become established.

Known Hazards

The fruits are considered to be toxic[].
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 - Bolivia, northern Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guyanas

Habitat

Found especially in secondary vegetation where it can be locally very abundant[].

Properties

Habit	Shrub
Height	3.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in full sun, preferring a soil of a loamy nature[]. Grows well on nutrient-depleted soils[].
The plant responds well to coppicing and can survive forest fires by resprouting from the roots[].

Edible Uses

Fruit is reportedly edible[].

Medicinal

The plant (part not specified) is used in Brazil to treat a range of conditions, though it is mainly indicated in the treatment of diabetes[].

The grated bark has an emollient and resolvent effect when rubbed locally on swellings or tumors[]

The fruits and leaves are boiled, and the water used as a medicament for 'bush yaws', or for treating sores[].

The pulp of the fruit is used for treating persistent sores[]

The roots are boiled and the water drunk as an anti-malarial[].
The roots are boiled and the water used as an antibacterial and as an antiseptic (mouthwash), and for treating
toothache[].

The plant (part not specified) is used for easing toothache[].

The fruits contain alkaloids and flavonoids, which showed cytotoxic activity[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is very spiny and is often found in abundance in open and secondary vegetation[]. Within its native range, it has potential for use as a pioneer species, its spiny nature helping to keep some of the herbivores away as the trees establish themselves[].

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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