Cestrum latifolium

Lam.

Bitter greens

Solanaceae Edible: Leaves, Fruit Potential hazards — see below 28 iNaturalist observations

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

Description

A shrub or slender tree. It grows 4 m tall. The flowers are in tufts in the axils of leaves. There are 4-12 flowers in a group. The fruit is an oval berry. It is 0.7 cm long by 0.5 cm wide. The fruit are green to dark purplish-blue. There are 3-4 seeds.

Edible Uses

The leaves and fruit are edible and sold in markets.

Traditional Uses

CAUTION: Many Cestrum are poisonous.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Known Hazards

Many Cestrum species are poisonous; caution is advised. The fruit are used as fish poison.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows in coastal areas and in open savanna forest and on slopes. It grows in moist rich soil and can be in full sun or light shade.

Where It Grows

Africa, Asia, Central Africa, Central America, Congo, Guatemala, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Indonesia, Panama, SE Asia, South America*, Suriname, West Indies,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from seeds or tip cuttings.

Other Information

Sold in markets.

Notes

There are about 175-200 Cestrum species. The fruit are used as fish poison.

Synonyms

Cestrum albopunctatum DunalCestrum billbergianum Beurl.Cestrum chloranthum DunalCestrum floribundum Willd. ex Roem. & Schult.Cestrum hirtum Sieber ex Sendtn.Cestrum latifolium var. genuinum Stehlé ex FournetCestrum latifolium var. tenuiflorum (Kunth) O.E. SchulzCestrum oliganthum DunalCestrum oliganthum var. latifolium DunalCestrum ovatum Willd. ex Roem. & Schult.Cestrum poeppigii Sendtn.Cestrum prieurei DunalCestrum tenuiflorum KunthCestrum tenuifolium FranceyCestrum vespertinum Griseb.

Also Known As

Barriga de sapo, Bella de noche, Bita wiwiri, Cazabe, Ciruelilla, Ciruelo de monte, Clavito, Daun pahit, Ke tipen

References (7)

Altschul, S.V.R., 1973, Drugs and Foods from Little-known Plants. Notes in Harvard University Herbaria. Harvard Univ. Press. Massachusetts. no. 4055
Grandtner, M. M. & Chevrette, J., 2013, Dictionary of Trees, Volume 2: South America: Nomenclature, Taxonomy and Ecology. Academic Press p 121
Jardin, C., 1970, List of Foods Used In Africa, FAO Nutrition Information Document Series No 2.p 66
Martin, F.W. & Ruberte, R.M., 1979, Edible Leaves of the Tropics. Antillian College Press, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. p 219
Sukarya, D. G., (Ed.) 2013, 3,500 Plant Species of the Botanic Gardens of Indonesia. LIPI p 606

Show all 7 references