Common Name:

General Information

Solanum skutchii is a climbing shrub with stems that can be 7.5 metres or more long growing from a non-tuberous rootstock. The stems scramble over the ground, often rooting at the nodes, and climb into the surrounding vegetation for support[].

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

C. America - Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, north to central Mexico

Habitat

Wet forests or cloud forests or mixed forests, sometimes on stony banks or along streams; at elevations from 915 - 2,,850 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Climber
Height	6.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

Leaves - boiled and eaten as a pot herb[].

The ovoid to globose, orange-red to orange fruit is about 15mm. in diameter[]. There are no reports of edibility for the fruit.

Medicinal

None known

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.
Division

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