Solanum crinitum
Lam.
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Summary
Source: WikipediaSolanum crinitum, syn. Solanum macranthum, common name giant star potato tree, is a small tropical tree belonging to the family Solanaceae, growing to 12 m (39 ft) tall, native to the northeastern half of South America. Its flowers continue to grow bigger even after they open, doubling in size, and eventually becoming 5 cm (2.0 in) wide. Simultaneously with this, the flowers also change color, opening purple and becoming white. It is very short-lived for a tree-sized plant, being full-grown at age four, and often dead by its fifth year. If pollinated, the flowers produce a round, orange fruit about 5 cm (2.0 in) diameter. The 5- to 7-lobed leaves are about 40 cm (16 in) long and about half as wide.
Description
An herb in the Solanaceae family found in tropical regions.
This description is brief — help expand it
Edible Uses
The fruit is edible.
Medicinal Uses
The plant (part not specified) is used in Brazil to treat a range of conditions, though it is mainly indicated in the treatment of diabetes. The grated bark has an emollient and resolvent effect when rubbed locally on swellings or tumors The fruits and leaves are boiled, and the water used as a medicament for 'bush yaws', or for treating sores. The pulp of the fruit is used for treating persistent sores The roots are boiled and the water drunk as an anti-malarial. The roots are boiled and the water used as an antibacterial and as an antiseptic (mouthwash), and for treating toothache. The plant (part not specified) is used for easing toothache. The fruits contain alkaloids and flavonoids, which showed cytotoxic activity.
Known Hazards
The fruits are considered to be toxic. 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.
Where It Grows
Amazon, Asia, Bolivia, Brazil, Gyuana, Myanmar, SE Asia, South America, Venezuela,
Cultivation
Succeeds in full sun, preferring a soil of a loamy nature. Grows well on nutrient-depleted soils. The plant responds well to coppicing and can survive forest fires by resprouting from the roots.
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. Cuttings of half-ripe wood. Very easy, the cuttings root within a couple of weeks.
Other Uses
The plant is very spiny and is often found in abundance in open and secondary vegetation. Within its native range, it has potential for use as a pioneer species, its spiny nature helping to keep some of the herbivores away as the trees establish themselves.
References (1)
- 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
