It is widely accepted that Solanum macrocarpon is the cultivated form of the wild Solanum dasyphyllum. Opinions on whether to maintain them as distinct species differ, any distinctions between them are largely artificial, but they are maintained as distinct here for practical purposes.

Common Name: African Eggplant

General Information

Solanum macrocarpon is an erect, herbaceous, perennial plant growing around 30 - 150cm tall. The branches can become more or less woody, especially at the base; they are unarmed, or with occasional prickles[, ].
A popular vegetable in west Africa, where the leaves are a regular part of the diet. The plant also supplies an edible fruit and has a range of local medicinal uses. The plant is sometimes cultivated in the tropics, especially western Africa and southeast Asia, for its edible fruit and leaves, which are sold in local markets[, , ]. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental[].

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

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Range

Tropical western Africa - Sierra Leone to Nigeria.

Habitat

Evergreen forest edges, floodplains, riverbanks, cultivated ground, in ± dry or sometimes moist situations at elevations up to 1,765 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	1.50 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the moist tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 1,765 metres, though it is generally only cultivated below 600 metres[]. At higher elevations the plant tends to be more sturdy and growth is slower[]. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 20 - 26°c, but can tolerate 10 - 32°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 700 - 1,000mm, but tolerates 500 - 4,000mm[].
Requires a sunny position[]. Plants are tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions, but grow best in fertile, humus-rich conditions[]. Prefers a pH in the range 6.5 - 7.5, tolerating 4.3 - 8.5[]. Plants are relatively drought tolerant once established[].
When grown for its leaves, the plant is trimmed when about 20cm tall in order to promote the production of new shoots. This trimming also results in abundant fruit production[].
Selective harvesting of the leaves can commence 40 - 50 days after the plant germinates, about a week after the first flowers appear. Harvesting continues at two weekly intervals and, depending on the availability of water, continues for up to a year[]. Leaves can be harvested for several seasons from regrowths, but a new crop each year gives the best yield[].
The fruit starts to ripen after about 3 - 4 months[, ].
An average leaf yield of 2.9 kilos per square metre, with a crop spacing of 50cm × 50cm, has been recorded in Nigeria[].
The cultivar ‘Newubaar’ has given 1.5 kilos of fruits per plant in 4 months. Regular leaf harvesting decreases the fruit yield[].
Several named varieties exist in Africa, mainly developed for their edible leaves, but some for their fruits[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked. A soft edible flesh[]. The fruit can be eaten raw, though it is more commonly picked before it is fully ripe and cooked as a vegetable or used in soups and sauces[, , ]. A more or less bitter flavour[]. The yellow or orange fruit is a globose berry, up to 6cm long and 8cm wide[, ].

Leaves - cooked and used as a vegetable[]. A somewhat bitter flavour that is much liked in Africa[]. The leaves are boiled or steamed and used as a side dish with rice[]. They can be added to soups and sauces[].

Flowers[].

Medicinal

The leaves are chewed as a treatment for throat troubles[]. The crushed leaves are taken to treat stomach troubles[].

A decoction of the leaves and roots is used to treat abscesses and ear infections[].

The juice of boiled roots is drunk to get rid of hookworms[].

The fruits are taken as a laxative, and to treat cardiac diseases[].

The plant (parts not specified) is used to treat digestive problems and anaemia[].

Other Uses

The leaves are chewed to clean the teeth[]. The flowers and fruits are used[].

Propagation

Seed - sow in a seedbed or in containers. Presoaking the seeds in hydrogen peroxide for 24 hours generally improves germination[]. Plant out into their permanent positions when about 6 - 8cm tall[].

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