Solanum melongena

Eggplant is a tender perennial reaching about 1 meter tall. It produces glossy fruit from August through October, with foliage from May to October. The plant requires full sun and thrives in well-drained loamy or sandy soil with neutral to slightly alkaline pH. It prefers consistently moist conditions and tolerates heavy clay soils.

Description

A perennial shrubby herb up to 1 m tall. It is often grown as an annual. It has a deep taproot and branched side roots. The stem is thick and covered with many woolly hairs. The plant has many branches. Often the plant is spiny. The leaves are large, alternate and simple. They are angular and unequal near the stalk. Leaves can be 20 cm long and wavy along the edge. Leaves are covered with hairs. Flowers are bluish red and 5 cm across. They are either solitary or in small groups opposite the leaves. They have 5 large woolly lobes which continue to surround the base of the fruit. Fruit are white, blue, green or purple. The fruit colour and shape vary. Sometimes the fruit is spiny. Often the fruit are 10 to 20 cm long and 5-8 cm wide. Numerous kidney shaped seeds are in the flesh of the berry. There are many cultivated varieties.

Edible Uses

The fruit can be baked, stewed, or added to soups and curries — it should not be eaten raw. It is considered very nutritious, being a good source of vitamin C and potassium, and can reach up to 20cm long in cultivated varieties. The leaves are used mixed with rice bran and salt in which daikon radish roots have been pickled, though caution is advised given the plant's noted toxicity.

Traditional Uses

Fruit are mostly fried then eaten. They can also be grilled, baked, stuffed and stewed. They are used in curries. The fruit are also dried and stored. The leaves although edible are hairy and not good flavour. They are mixed with rice bran and salt in which Japanese radishes are pickled.

Medicinal Uses

The aubergine is valued both as a food and a medicinal plant. The fruit helps lower blood cholesterol levels and is useful as part of a diet for managing high blood pressure; it is also antihaemorrhoidal and hypotensive. It is used as an antidote to poisonous mushroom ingestion. Bruised with vinegar, the fruit is applied as a poultice for cracked nipples, abscesses, and haemorrhoids. The leaves are narcotic and a decoction of them is applied externally to discharging sores and to treat internal haemorrhages; they can also be made into a soothing, emollient poultice for burns, abscesses, cold sores, and similar conditions. Aubergine leaves are toxic and should only be used externally. The ashes of the peduncle are used in treating intestinal haemorrhages, piles, and toothache. A decoction of the root is astringent.

Known Hazards

All green parts of the plant are poisonous. 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

A tropical plant. A plant of the warm tropics. Plants grow from sea level up to 2200 m altitude in the tropics. It suits wet climates but does well in dry climates with irrigation. It needs a long warm growing period. A daily mean temperature of 20-30°C is most suitable. They are frost tender. They need a rich, friable, well tilled soil. In the subtropics they can be grown as a summer crop. In Nepal plants grow to 1500 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 9-12.

Where It Grows

Africa, Albania, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Asia, Australia, Austria, Balkans, Bangladesh, Benin, Botswana, Brazil, British Indian Ocean Terr., BIOT, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Caucasus, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Central Asia, Chad, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo DR, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Europe, Fiji, France, FSM, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guam, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, India*, Indochina, Indonesia, Iraq, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Liberia, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Marquesas, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mediterranean, Mexico, Micronesia, Middle East, Moldova, Monaco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, North Africa, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Peru, Philippines, Pohnpei, Rotuma, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Sikkim, Singapore, Slovenia, Somalia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, South Sudan, Spain, Sri Lanka, St. Vincent and Grenadines, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Turkey, Türkiye, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, Uruguay, USA, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Wallis & Futuna, West Africa, West Indies, West Timor, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

Requires a very warm, sheltered sunny position, though it succeeds in most soils. Requires plenty of moisture, though the soil should be well-drained. Requires a pH in the range 5.5 to 6.8. The aubergine is often cultivated, especially in tropical areas, for its edible fruit, there are many named varieties. The plant is not frost-hardy, though it can be grown as an annual in temperate zones. It can, however, be difficult to ripen the fruit from outdoor grown plants in cooler temperate climates such as Britain. In this country they are more commonly grown in a warm or cool greenhouse or in a frame. A steady temperature of 25 - 30°c is required during the growing season for the best production of flowers and fruit. A short-lived perennial plant, it is usually cultivated as an annual. Plants should be restricted to no more than 4 fruits to make sure they reach a good size and ripen properly. Plants are rarely bothered by pests or diseases. Slugs, snails and caterpillars love this plant. Aubergines grow well with beans, tarragon and thyme. Aromatic plants such as lavender, tansy, marigolds or wormwood help to keep aphids at bay. Grows badly with potatoes, onions and garlic.

Propagation

Sow seed in early spring in a warm greenhouse maintained at a minimum of 15°C. Prick seedlings out into individual pots once large enough to handle and grow them on quickly. If planting outdoors, do so only after the last expected frosts.

Other Uses

None known

Production

Fruit are ready for harvest after 3 months. They continue to yield for 3-4 months.

Other Information

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. Occasionally seen in most areas of Papua New Guinea.

Notes

There are about 1400 Solanum species. It possibly has anti-cancer properties.

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

Afufa, Ai gua, Ai kwa, Badanekayi, Badanjan, Baigan, Baigani, Baigun, Baingan, Baingar, Baingano, Bartaku, Batanse, Baklazhan, Begun, Berenjena, Berinjela, Bhanta, Bhantaki, Boulanger, Bringanya, Bunzu, Chirivanga, Dodda badane, Egipalanti, Ekkplant, Eruvanga, Gaji, Ga sebe, Gauta, Gbo agbitsa, Gbolo, Hingoli, Igba-aja, Igbo, Jajčevec, Jati bengani, Jubloks, Jukutam, Kaji, Kathirikai, Kattarikkai, Khayan, Khayan-sat, K poni-gojo, Kuli-begun, Lahopipi, Litnga-shaba, Ma khuea, Magringala, Mahoti hinpoli, Mak-hku, Makhua terung, Ma-kobokobo, Manta, Mbolongu, Melensaano, Mendautuk-chi, Mettavangu, Mpilinganya, Nasu, Nasubi, Ngai gwa, Niruvanga, Ntoropo, Paigana, Panthao, Qie, Ringni, Sebe atorokpo, Shaba, Skwash, Ta-gau, Talong, Te baigan, Terong, Terung, Tionh, Trab veng, Umutoryi, Vambatu, Vangachettu, Vangi, Vangun, Vankaya, Vantak, Vartaku vatigama, Vataun, Vatigana, Vazhuthana, Vengni, Volbual, Yalo

References (99)

• Abbiw, D.K., 1990, Useful Plants of Ghana. West African uses of wild and cultivated plants. Intermediate Technology Publications and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. p 38
• Akinola, R., et al, 2020, A Review of Indigenous Food Crops in Africa and the Implications for more Sustainable and Healthy Food Systems. Sustainability 2020, 12, 3493;
• Ali, A. M. S., 2005, Homegardens in Smallholder Farming Systems: Examples from Bangladesh. Human Ecology, Vol. 33, No. 2 pp. 245-270
• Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 581
• Anderson, E. F., 1993, Plants and people of the Golden Triangle. Dioscorides Press. p 221

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