Common Name:

General Information

Solanum leucocarpon is a foetid shrubs or small tree usually growing from 1 - 6 metres tall. The young stems and leaves are densely hispidulous[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as 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[].
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 - northern Argentina, Bolivia, central and northern Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guyanas; C. America - Panama

Habitat

Secondary growth situations, along forest edges, in savannah, as well as in many other types of secondary or highly disturbed habitats; at elevations from sea level to 1,500 metres[]

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Shrub
Height	3.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

The fruit is a dirty yellowish-green, globose berry around 10 - 15mm in diameter[]. There are no reports of edibility.

Medicinal

The stem and leaves are macerated in rum and then applied topica lly to stop itching[].

A bitter decoction of the leaves is drunk as a treatment for liver disorders[]. A decoction of both young and dead leaves, combined with young leaves of Psidium guajava, are used as an effective diarrhoea remedy[].
The leaves are pulverised and rubbed on parasitic skin afflictions[]. The leaves are used to treat sores[].

The roots are boiled, lime juice and a pinch of salt added, and the liquid is drunk as an anti-malarial[]

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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