Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Herbaceous Plant |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Maximum Height | 1.5 |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Perennial herb up to 1.5 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Lance-shaped to oblong leaves (10-30 cm long, 4-15 cm wide) are pinnately lobed or have an entire, undulate leaf margin. |
| Stems | Stem is purplish black and lacks spines. |
| Flowers | Bell-shaped flowers with fused petals (5 cm wide) are light purple with purple veins. |
| Fruit | The deep orange, smooth fruit is round and depressed (5-6 cm tall, 7-8 cm wide). The flesh is firm like a persimmon, but smells like a tomato. The flesh is moist, but not juicy except around the seeds. Immature fruits are green or white. |
| Similar | Some cultivars of Solanum macrocarpon may resemble certain cultivars of Solanum aethiopicum, but S. macrocarpon petals are fused together while S. aethiopicum petals are free. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Edible Plant Parts : Edible Fruits Food (Fruit or Vegetable): The sour immature fruit is often cooked in soups or sauces, but is also sometimes eaten raw in salads. In Africa, the fruits, shoots and leaves are all eaten. In Sarawak, it is popular to cook the fruit with fish or coconut milk. |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
Foliar
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
|---|---|
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Pinnately Lobed / Pinnatifid, Entire - Wavy / Undulate |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acute |
| Typical Foliar Size | 10 cm to 30 cm |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Orange |
|---|---|
| Mature Fruit Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
| Fruit Type | |
| Mature Seed Colour(s) | Cream / Off-White |
| Seed Quantity Per Fruit | Numerous (>20) |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 32795 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 7208 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
