Solanum coagulans

Forssk.

Xi ha la gou

Solanaceae Edible: Fruit, Vegetable Potential hazards — see below 10 iNaturalist observations

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Description

A shrub. It keeps growing from year to year. It has prickles. The fruit are about 1 cm across.

This description is brief — help expand it

Edible Uses

The fruit are used as a vegetable and to coagulate milk.

Traditional Uses

The fruit is used as a vegetable. It is also used to coagulate milk.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

An infusion of the stems is used as a treatment for stomach ache. The roots are used to treat cough. The boiled roots are taken to avoid a miscarriage. The roots are chewed by expectant mothers who experience abnormal pain. The seeds are used as a purgative. The dry seeds are powdered and applied to wounds as an antiseptic. The whole plant, including the fruits, is pulped and applied to wounds and skin tumours as a dressing.

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. In Yunnan.

Where It Grows

Africa, Asia, China, East Africa, Egypt, Kenya, North Africa,

Cultivation

A common weed within the plants native range.

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. Division of the stems..

Other Uses

The fruits are used for tanning.

Other Information

Fruit are sold in local markets. It is a cultivated plant.

Also Known As

Maheleng, Mahe, Makene

References (4)

Fu, Yongneng, et al, 2003, Relocating Plants from Swidden Fallows to Gardens in Southwestern China. Economic Botany, 57(3): 389-402
Mutie, F. M., et al, 2023, Important Medicinal and Food Taxa (Orders and Families) in Kenya, Based on Three Quantitative Approaches. Plants 2023, 12, 1145
Samuels, J., 2015, Biodiversity of Food Species of the Solanaceae Family: A Preliminary Taxonomic Inventory of Subfamily Solanoideae. Resources 2015, 4. 277-322
Xu, You-Kai, et al, 2004, Wild Vegetable Resources and Market Survey in Xishuangbanna, Southwest China. Economic Botany. 58(4): 647-667.