Solanum leptopodum
Van Heurck & Müll.Arg.
Solanaceae
Solanum loretoanum Bitter
Common Name:
General Information
Solanum leptopodum is a much-branched shrub growing 1 - 4 metres tall[
435- Title
- Solanaceae Source
- Publication
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- Author
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- 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 medicine. It is sometimes cultivated for medicinal use in Ecuador[
435- Title
- Solanaceae Source
- Publication
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- Author
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- 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.
].
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
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- Author
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- Website
- http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/poison/poison.htm
- Publisher
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- Year
- 0
- ISBN
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- 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 - northern Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia.
Habitat
An understorey plant in dense, primary forest and also in more open secondary formations; usually at elevations from 100 - 500 metres, sometimes ascending to 1,900 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
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Habit | Shrub |
| Height | 3.00 m |
| Pollinators | Insects |
| Cultivation Status | Cultivated, Wild |
Cultivation Details
Not known
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
The leaves are used as a remedy for crying babies. The leaves are crushed into lukewarm water, and the infant is bathed with the infusion[
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.
,
521- Title
- Useful Plants of the Siona and Secoya Indians of Eastern Ecuador.
- Publication
- Fieldiana Botany New Series No. 15
- Author
- Vickers W.T.; Plowman T.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Field Museum of Natural History; USA.
- Year
- 1984
- ISBN
- 0015 - 0746
- Description
- Very terse, but it gives the uses of a large number of species. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. A decoction of the leaves is used to treat skin irritations[
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.
].
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.
