Common Name: Fruta de Lobo

General Information

Solanum lycocarpum is a deciduous, prickly shrub or small tree with a roundish, sparse crown. Normally growing as a shrub less than 2 metres tall, it can become more tree-like, up to 5 metres tall with a crooked, cylindrical bole 15 - 30cm in diameter[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of wood. It is suitable for use as a pioneer species to re-establish woodland, and used to be cultivated by indigenous people as a fruit crop[].

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 - Paraguay, southern, central and eastern Brazil.

Habitat

Savannahs and wooded savannahs, usually in open, secondary formations[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Shrub
Height	2.50 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of tropical and subtropical areas at elevations up to 1,100 metres[].
Requires a sunny position[]. Found in a wide variety of well-drained soils in the wide, from sandy to heavy clays[]. Succeeds in poor soils[]. Established plants are very drought tolerant[].
A fast-growing species, readily invading pasture-land, where it is considered to be a noxious weed[].
The plant can flower all year round, but predominantly in the cooler season[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw[]. A fleshy, succulent pulp[].The fruit is a large, green to yellowish-green, globose berry up to 15cm in diameter[].

Medicinal

The fruit has medicinal properties[].
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[].

An infusion of the fruits and flowers is used in the treatment of asthma, flu, colds, and is also used as a tonic[].

The leaves are antiepileptic, antirheumaic, antispasmodic, diuretic, emollient and sedative[].

The 'lobster powder' obtained from the fruits was active in decreasing cholesterol levels[].
Studies have confirmed analgesic, anti-inflammatory and toxic activities.
The fruits contain the alkaloids solamargine and solasodine[]

Agroforestry Uses:

A fast-growing plant that readily invades pasture land. Because of its prickly nature it is not grazed by livestock and is considered a noxious weed by farmers, but it also makes an excellent pioneer species for re-establishing forest[, ].

Other Uses

The wood is medium-textured, straight-grained, light in weight, soft to cut, with poor mechanical properties and very subject to rot[]. Of low value and small dimensions, it is only used for items such as cheap packing boxes[].
The wood is used for fuel and to make charcoal[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe[]. Sow the seed in a sunny position in a sandy soil in a nursery seedbed, only lightly covering the seed[]. A high germination rate can be expected, with the seeds sprouting within 3 - 4 weeks. Seedlings grow away very quickly - pot them up into individual containers when they are 4 - 5cm tall and they should be ready to plant out into their permanent positions 4 - 5 months later[].

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