Solanum demissum
Lindl.
Papa cimarrona, Papa del monte
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Dale Lee Denham-Logsdon, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Dale Lee Denham-Logsdon
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Dale Lee Denham-Logsdon, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Dale Lee Denham-Logsdon
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Dale Lee Denham-Logsdon, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Dale Lee Denham-Logsdon
Summary
Source: WikipediaSolanum demissum is a species of wild potato in the family Solanaceae, native to Mexico and Guatemala. It has been extensively used as a source of alleles for resistance to Phytophthora infestans, the cause of late potato blight, to improve the domestic potato Solanum tuberosum.
Description
A herb. It has a tuberous rootstock that puts up annual stems. It grows 60 cm tall.
This description is brief — help expand it
Edible Uses
The tubers are cooked and eaten, added to soups and stews for flavour. The ripe fruits are also cooked and eaten as a sweet without needing added sugar.
Traditional Uses
The tubers are cooked and eaten. They are added to soups, and stews. They add flavour. The ripe fruit are also cooked and eaten as a sweet. They do not need to have sugar added.
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.
Distribution
It is a tropical plant. It grows between 1,900-3,700 m above sea level. It grows in fir and pine forests.
Where It Grows
Central America, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, North America, South America,
Propagation
Seed - sow in trays in a nursery. Prick out the seedlings into a fairly rich compost as soon as they are large enough to handle and grow them on fast. Plant them out when 10cm or more tall. Division of the tubers when the plant is dormant
Other Uses
This species is considered to be of potential value in the production of blight and frost resistant strains in our cultivated potato (Solanum tuberosum).
Other Information
It is cultivated.
Synonyms
Also Known As
Papa
References (4)
- Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 236
- J. Hort. Soc. London 3:69, 70. 1848
- 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 816
- Lim, T. K., 2015, Edible Medicinal and Non Medicinal Plants. Volume 9, Modified Stems, Roots, Bulbs. Springer p 78
