Solandra grandiflora

Sw.

Showy chalicevine, Silver cup

Solanaceae Edible: Fruit, Caution Potential hazards — see below 123 iNaturalist observations

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

iNaturalist· cc-by

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

Summary

Solandra grandiflora, the showy chalicevine, or papaturra is a member of the nightshade (Solanaceae) genus Solandra and, like the other members of the genus, is a climbing plant with large, attractive, trumpet-shaped flowers. It is native to Central America and northern South America and is widely grown in the tropics as an ornamental. The green parts of the plant are highly toxic (hallucinogenic / delirient in small doses), due to tropane alkaloid content, and have caused deaths from anticholinergic poisoning, but the flesh of the ripe fruit (although not the unripe fruit or seeds) is said to be edible. The fruits, which are globular and largely enclosed by the accrescent calyces, can reach a kilogram in weight and have a taste described as apple-like or melon-like.

Description

A climber or woody vine. It climbs over vegetation nearby. The vines can be 30 m long. Tendrils and roots can form from each node. Leaves are on the main vine and side branches. They are thick and dark green. They can be 15 cm long by 7 cm wide. The flowers are large. They can be 25 cm long and are bell shaped. Plants flower at night and have a strong scent. The fruit are large and yellow with many seeds.

Edible Uses

The fruit are eaten, though they probably should not be.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are eaten. They probably should not be eaten. CAUTION: Some Solandra are poisonous. They contain hallucinogenic drugs.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Known Hazards

Symptoms caused by ingestion of plant parts - even from chewing fragments of flowers - include dryness of throat, headache, weakness, fever, delirium, hallucinations and potentially fatal circulatory and respiratory failure.

Distribution

It is a tropical plant. It grows near the coast.

Where It Grows

Antilles, Asia, Australia, Brazil, Central America, India, Jamaica*, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, South America*, Venezuela, West Indies,

Cultivation

Plants grown from cuttings rarely flower.

Production

It grows quickly.

Notes

There are about 8-10 Solandra species. They grow in tropical America. The fruit are considered magical and aphrodisiac. They contain alkaloids.

Synonyms

Swartzia grandiflora (Sw.) J. F. Gmel.

Also Known As

Gusticha, Trumpet flower

References (6)

Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 579
Hibbert, M., 2002, The Aussie Plant Finder 2002, Florilegium. p 291
http://www.botanic-gardens-ljubljana.com/en/plants
Kermath, B. M., et al, 2014, Food Plants in the Americas: A survey of the domesticated, cultivated and wild plants used for Human food in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. On line draft. p 813
Kongl. Vetensk. Acad. Nya Handl. 8:300, t. 11. 1787

Show all 6 references