Solanum melongena var. incanum

Local garden egg, Bitter tomato

Solanaceae Edible: Leaves, Fruit Potential hazards — see below 7,342 iNaturalist observations

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Description

An erect biennial plant. It is a small shrub. It grows 90-120 cm tall. The stems are round with hairs around the stem like a star. It does not have prickles. The leaves are dark green and also have hairs. The leaf blade is coarsely toothed and is often irregular in shape. The leaf blade can be 30 cm long and 10-15 cm across. The base of the leaves varies on each side. The flowers are white and star shaped. They are about 2 cm across and about 8 flowers occur together. The fruit are in groups of 2-5 and are 1-4 cm across. They are whitish green with dark stripes. When ripe they become deep orange. The seeds are thin and kidney shaped. They are 2-3 mm long.

Edible Uses

The fruit are eaten raw, sliced in soups and stews, or dried for later use. The leaves are also eaten. The seeds are used for curdling milk.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are eaten raw or sliced and used in soups and stews. They are also dried for later use. The seeds are used for curdling milk. The leaves are also eaten. CAUTION: Some people have raised concerns about cancer causing chemicals in these fruit.

Known Hazards

Some people have raised concerns about cancer-causing chemicals in the fruit.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It requires loose soil and heavy manuring during growth. It is drought resistant. It does not grow well in the shade.

Where It Grows

Asia, Africa, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, India, Madagascar, Malaysia, Nigeria, SE Asia, Sudan, Uganda, West Africa,

Cultivation

Plants are grown from seed. Seedlings appear in 7-10 days. They can be put in a nursery then transplanted. This is done after about 4 weeks when they are about 5-10 cm high. Plants need to be about 1.5 m apart. Each fruit contains about 450 seeds. These weigh about 1 g.

Production

The first fruit can be harvested about 3-4 months after planting. Plants remain productive for over a year. Fruit can weigh 70 g. The yield from one plant over a year is about 4 kg.

Other Information

Common and popular in Africa.

Notes

There are about 1400 Solanum species. See Taxon reference.

Synonyms

Solanum coagulens Forsk.Solanum incanum Linn.

Also Known As

Asind, Bari mauhari, Ikan, Maraghune, Merigam, Palestine nightshade, Terong perat, Tingi, Ubhi ringani

References (15)

Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 580
Burkill, I.H., 1966, A Dictionary of the Economic Products of the Malay Peninsula. Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Vol 2 (I-Z) p 2079 (As Solanum coagulans)
Deb, D. B., 1989, Solanum melongena, S. incanum versus S. insanum (Solanaceae) Taxon, Vol. 38, No. 1, pp. 138-139
Epenhuijsen C.W. van., 1974, Growing Native vegetables in Nigeria. FAO Rome, p 84
Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 236 (As Solanum incanum)

Show all 15 references

Jardin, C., 1970, List of Foods Used In Africa, FAO Nutrition Information Document Series No 2.p 102
Kiple, K.F. & Ornelas, K.C., (eds), 2000, The Cambridge World History of Food. CUP p 1803
Martin, F.W. & Ruberte, R.M., 1979, Edible Leaves of the Tropics. Antillian College Press, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. p 220
Okigbo, B.N., Vegetables in Tropical Africa, in Opena, R.T. & Kyomo, M.L., 1990, Vegetable Research and development in SADCC countries. Asian Vegetable Research and development Centre. Taiwan. p 45
Oomen, H.A.P.C., & Grubben, G.J.H., 1978, Tropical Leaf Vegetables in Human Nutrition, Communication 69, Department of Agricultural research, RTI Amsterdam, p 83
Singh, H.B., Arora R.K.,1978, Wild edible Plants of India. Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi. p 77
Terra, G.J.A., 1973, Tropical Vegetables. Communication 54e Royal Tropical Institute, Amsterdam, p 73
Tindall, H.D., 1983, Vegetables in the Tropics, Macmillan p 360
Uphof,
Vickery, M.L. and Vickery, B., 1979, Plant Products of Tropical Africa, Macmillan. p 105