Solanum uncinellum
Lindl.
Solanaceae
Cyphomandra yungasense Rusby
Solanum amethystinum Poit. ex Hook.f.
Solanum granelianum D'Arcy
Solanum ipomoea Sendtn.
Solanum ipomoeoides Chodat & Hassl.
Solanum ipomoeum St.-Lag.
Solanum laetum Miq.
Solanum leucosporum Dunal
Solanum miquelii C.V.Morton
Solanum palenquense D'Arcy
Solanum penduliflorum Rusby
Solanum pendulum Link ex Steud.
Solanum pensile Sendtn.
Solanum scandens L.
Solanum sempervirens Dunal
Solanum styracioides Rusby
Solanum tinctum C.V.Morton
Solanum volubile Rusby
Witheringia pendula Roem. & Schult.
Common Name:
General Information
Solanum uncinellum is a large woody plant, with stems that climb into the canopy, attaching themselves by means of twining petioles[
435- Title
- Solanaceae Source
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://solanaceaesource.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Incredible detail on all the species in Solanum (now also including the Tomatoes which were formerly in Lycopersicon). The site will eventually include all other Genera within the Solanaceae.
].
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[
293- Title
- Poisonous Plants of North Carolina
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/poison/poison.htm
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent concise but comprehensive guide to toxic plants that grow in N. Carolina. It lists even those plants that are of very low toxicity, including several well-known food plants such as carrots and potatoes.
].
Unless there are specific entries with information on edible uses, it would be unwise to ingest any part of this plant[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Botanical References
Range
S. America - northern Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guyanas; C. America - Panama; Caribbean - Trinidad
Habitat
Found in a wide variety of habitats from lowland rainforest to dry chaco vegetation; at elevations up to 2,000 metres[
435- Title
- Solanaceae Source
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://solanaceaesource.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Incredible detail on all the species in Solanum (now also including the Tomatoes which were formerly in Lycopersicon). The site will eventually include all other Genera within the Solanaceae.
].
Properties
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Habit | Climber |
| Height | 20.00 m |
| Pollinators | Insects |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Solanum uncinellum is a very widespread and variable species, occurring in a huge range of habitats throughout the American tropics and into the subtropical zone of southern South America[
435- Title
- Solanaceae Source
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://solanaceaesource.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Incredible detail on all the species in Solanum (now also including the Tomatoes which were formerly in Lycopersicon). The site will eventually include all other Genera within the Solanaceae.
].
Edible Uses
The fruit is a red, violet or metallic blue, globose berry, up to 20mm in diameter[
435- Title
- Solanaceae Source
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://solanaceaesource.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Incredible detail on all the species in Solanum (now also including the Tomatoes which were formerly in Lycopersicon). The site will eventually include all other Genera within the Solanaceae.
]. We have seen no reports on edibility.
Medicinal
The roots and fruits are boiled, and the water drunk as a treatment for inflammation[
348- Title
- Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
- Publication
-
- Author
- DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
- Website
- http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Museum
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
].
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.
If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.
Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
