Solanum sessiliflorum

Solanum sessiliflorum, the cocona, is a tropical shrub of the family Solanaceae. The cocona plant has sturdy branches and huge, serrate and hairy leaves. Cocona closely resembles a number of close relatives, including naranjilla (S. quitoense) and pseudolulo (S. pseudolulo.) It can be distinguished from those plants by its lack of spines. It will hybridize with those and other close relatives. Cocona also lacks the characteristic purple coloring usually seen in the naranjilla. Its flowers resemble large potato flowers, with light green petals. Cocona is harvested in parts of South America around the Amazon rainforest such as Purús Province in eastern Peru. The fruit of cocona is a red, orange or yellow edible berry. Cocona is native to the Andean region of South America, where it is occasionally cultivated for human consumption. Cocona can also be grown as an indoor ornamental plant in temperate climates, but it seems to be quite sensitive to spider mites, so care should be taken not to keep it in too dry air during winter. Like the naranjilla, coconas are highly sensitive to aphids and nematodes. As subtropical plants, they can endure cool weather, but will be killed or severely damaged by frost. During summer, it can be grown outside or in a cold greenhouse. When grown from seed, coconas can bear fruit in as little as 9 months, or as long as 24. Solanum georgicum and Solanum hyporhodium were (and sometimes still are) included in this species, but they are generally treated as distinct today.

Description

A herb or small shrub. It grows 1-2 m tall. The leaves are oval and large. They are 30-50 cm long by 20-30 cm wide. The lobes taper to the tips. The lobes are triangle shaped and the edges are wavy. The flowers are 4-5 cm across. They are in racemes in the axils of leaves. The fruit is soft and oval. It is orange or red with subacid to sour pulp. There are many seeds. The skin of the fruit has a soft fuzz which can be rubbed off. The fruit are oval and 4-12 cm long by 3-6 cm wide. The fruit are edible.

Edible Uses

The soft fruits are peeled and used for jams, preserves, pies, sauces, and drinks. The leaves are cooked and eaten as a vegetable.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are peeled and used for jams, preserves, pies and sauces. A drink is made from the fruit. The leaves are cooked and eaten.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

No medicinal uses listed in provided data.

Known Hazards

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. It suits the hot, wet tropical lowlands. It grows between 200-1,000 m altitude in the Andes. It grows naturally in regions with temperatures between 18-30°C. It is best on light well-drained soils. It cannot tolerate root knot nematodes. The rainfall is 1,500-4,500 mm per year. It needs full sun. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.

Where It Grows

Amazon, Asia, Australia, Brazil, Central America*, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guiana, Guianas, Jamaica, Mexico, North America, Pacific, Peru*, Philippines, Puerto Rico, SE Asia, South America, Suriname, Trinidad, USA, Venezuela, West Indies,

Cultivation

Plants are grown from seed. Seeds are allowed to ferment for a couple of days to remove the flesh then washed and dried before planting. Seeds can be put in a nursery and transplanted when 20-30 cm high. A spacing about 2 m apart is suitable. Plants can be grown by cuttings or air-layering.

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. Root cuttings.

Other Uses

The fruit is used as a bath soap and also as a shampoo to clean and shine the hair

Production

Fruit mature about 8 weeks after pollination.

Other Information

It is a cultivated food plant. Fruit are commonly eaten locally.

Notes

There are about 1400 Solanum species.

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

Ccujapacco tton'tto, Chope, Coconilla, Cubios, Cubiu, Cucuna, Kukuna, Larajilla tape, Lulo, Miutoahui'ca, Naranjilla de monte, Orinoco apple, Peach tomato, Topiro, Tupiro, Tupiru, Turkey berry, Uwica

References (39)

• Barfod, A. S. & Kvist, L. P., 1996, Comparative Ethnobotanical Studies of the Amerindian Groups in Coastal Ecuador. The Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters. p 79, 83
• 1996, California Rare Fruit Growers, Inc. Pepino dulce Fruit fact
• Coronel, R.E., 1982, Fruit Collections in the Philippines. IBPGR Newsletter p 10 (As Solanum topiro)
• Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 1348
• Duchelle, A. E., 2007, Observations on Natural Resource use and Conservation by the Shuar In Ecuador's Cordillera del Condor. Ethnobotany Research & Applications 5:005-023

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