Solanum linearifolium

Herasim.

Mountain kangaroo apple

Solanaceae Edible: Fruit Potential hazards — see below 348 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Evergreen shrub with hermaphrodite flowers and seeds ripening year-round. Tolerates light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils with good drainage. Adapts to mildly acid, neutral, and mildly alkaline pH. Requires full sun and prefers consistently moist soil.

Description

Edible Uses

The fruit is edible raw or cooked, but must be fully ripe. Despite its appearance, the taste is generally disappointing — sickly sweet and often bitter — and quality varies between plants and from year to year on the same plant. The fruit grows up to 2cm long, contains a large number of flat seeds, and splits open upon ripening.

Medicinal Uses

None known

Known Hazards

Although no specific mention of toxicity has been seen for this species, it belongs to a genus where many if not all the members have poisonous leaves and sometimes also the unripe fruits.

Distribution

It is a warm temperate plant.

Where It Grows

Australia*,

Cultivation

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will succeed in Britain, though judging by its native range it is unlikely to succeed outdoors except in the very mildest parts of the country. Plants tolerate temperatures down to at least -7°c in Australian gardens, but this cannot be translated directly to British gardens due to our cooler summers and longer, colder and wetter winters. It is quite possible that this species can be grown at the foot of a warm sunny wall and be treated as a herbaceous perennial. As long as the roots are given a good mulch in autumn they should survive quite cold winters. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Succeeds in most soils in a sunny position.

Propagation

Sow seed in spring in a warm greenhouse; germination takes 2–3 weeks at 20°c. Prick seedlings into individual pots once large enough to handle. For annual cultivation, plant out after the last expected frosts with some protection such as a cloche until established. For perennial cultivation, particularly at the limits of cold-hardiness, keep plants in the greenhouse through their first winter in fairly large pots (12cm or larger) to accommodate their vigorous root growth. Top-growth may die back over winter, but roots should survive if greenhouse temperatures stay above about -5°c. Plant out in early summer the following year; plants will be somewhat hardier in their second winter. Cuttings of half-ripe wood taken in July or August root very easily in a frame within a couple of weeks. Pot into fairly large pots and overwinter in the greenhouse before planting out in early summer.

Other Uses

None known Special Uses

Notes

There are about 1400 Solanum species.

References (4)

Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 934
Low, T., 1991, Wild Food Plants of Australia. Australian Nature FieldGuide, Angus & Robertson. p 133
Low, T., 1992, Bush Tucker. Australia’s Wild Food Harvest. Angus & Robertson. p (Contents), 41
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/