Solanum jamaicense
Mill.
Solanaceae
Solanum acanthifolium Léman ex Dunal
Solanum brevipilosum Dunal
Solanum brevipilum Dunal
Solanum croceum Dunal
Solanum cuneifolium Dunal
Solanum cuneifolium Willd. ex Roem. & Schult.
Solanum decurrens Banks ex Dunal
Solanum dubium Dunal
Solanum heterotricum Dunal
Solanum portoricense Dunal
Solanum umbellatum Dunal
Solanum willdenovianum G.Don
Common Name: Tomate del Diablo
General Information
Solanum jamaicense is an erect shrub, usually growing around 100 - 350cm tall, but occasionally adopting a more climbing habit. The stems are moderately armed with recurved prickles around 3 - 8mm long[
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 and a medicine.
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
331- Title
- Flora of Guatemala
- Publication
-
- Author
- Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
- Website
- http://www.archive.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1946 - 1976
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
,
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 - Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guyanas, northern Brazil; C. America - Panama to central Mexico; Caribbean to Florida
Habitat
A weedy species of open fields and pastures, roadsides, or other disturbed areas; at elevations up to 900 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 |  |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Habit | Shrub |
| Height | 3.00 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 thin-skinned, globose berry, 4- 12mm in diameter, mottled green when immature, mottled orange or red when mature[
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
A decoction of the roots and leaves is used as an anthelmintic and to treat thrush in children[
348- Title
- Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
- Publication
-
- Author
- DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
- Website
- http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Museum
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
]. A warm decoction of the leaves is used as a wash for the elimination of body parasites[
630- Title
- Botanical Museum Leaflets Vol 28
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Harvard University; Cambridge, Mass.
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An article on the Ethnopharmacological uses of plants in northwestern S. America, amongst many other articles. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The plant contains steroidal sapogenins[
348- Title
- Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
- Publication
-
- Author
- DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
- Website
- http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Museum
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
].
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.
