Skip to main content

Solanum commersonii

Dunal

Uruguay potato

iNaturalist· cc-by

(c) Adriana Machado, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Adriana Machado

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

(c) Griselda Carreras, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

Contribute a photo Sign in required

Solanum commersonii is a species of wild potato in the family Solanaceae. It is native to southern Brazil, Uruguay, and northeastern Argentina, and has been introduced to Mauritius. It is a crop wild relative useful in potato breeding for its resistance to root knot nematode, soft rot, blackleg, bacterial wilt (Ralstonia solanacearum), verticillium wilt, Potato virus X, tobacco etch virus, common scab, and late blight (caused by Phytophthora infestans), and for its frost tolerance and ability to cold acclimate.

Description

A herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 15-30 cm tall. The tubers are 2 cm across. The leaves have leaflets along the stalk. The leaves are 8-12 cm long with 3-7 leaflets. The fruit are oval or cone shape and 3 cm across by 2.5 cm wide.

Edible Uses

The tubers and roots are eaten.

Distribution

It is a subtropical plant. In Argentina it grows below 400 m above sea level.

Where It Grows

Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, South America, Uruguay,

Cultivation

It can be grown from seeds or tubers.

Notes

There are about 1400 Solanum species.

Synonyms

Solanum acroleucum BitterSolanum compactum Hawkes & HjertingSolanum debile Dunaland others

Also Known As

Batata-selvagem, Batata-silvestre, Batatilla purgante, Papa cimarrona, Papa del campo, Papa silvestre

References (4)

  • Hedrick, U.P., 1919, (Ed.), Sturtevant's edible plants of the world. p 613
  • Macmillan, H.F. (Revised Barlow, H.S., et al), 1991, Tropical Planting and Gardening. Sixth edition. Malayan Nature Society. Kuala Lumpur. p 368
  • Malezas Comestibles del Cono Sur, INTA, 2009, Buernos Aires
  • J. L. M. Poiret, Encycl. suppl. 3:746. 1814

More from Solanaceae