Common Name:

General Information

Solanum stramoniifolium is an erect or spreading perennial plant with very prickly, more or less woody stems. It can grow up to 2 metres tall and wide[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, It is occasionally cultivated in Colombia and Peru for the edible fruits.

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 Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guyanas.

Habitat

Savannah, ecotones between forest and savannah, forest openings, along riverbanks; in open sun or partial shade; often as a weed in clearings, pastures, fields, secondary thickets, trailsides, round human habitations; at elevations to 600 metres[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Shrub
Height	2.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

The plant is tolerant of diverse soil types ranging from rich to relatively sterile sandy soils, usually on well drained substrata and not ordinarily found in swampy situations[].
The plant is often found as a weed within its native range, and is sporadically adventive elsewhere in the tropics[].

Edible Uses

Fruits - raw or cooked[, , ]. It is used to prepare juices etc[]. The orange or red, globose fruit is 12 - 24mm in diameter, containing many small seeds[].

Medicinal

The leaves are crushed and applied as a poultice to severe burns[]..

Other Uses

An extract of the fruit is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a skin conditioner[].

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.

Add a Comment:

If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.

Name:

Email(Private):

Message:

Captcha: 6 add another 6 is?