Solanum sisymbriifolium

Solanum sisymbriifolium is commonly known as vila-vila, sticky nightshade, red buffalo-bur, the fire-and-ice plant, litchi tomato, or Morelle de Balbis. The small edible fruits are red on the outside and yellow inside. It grows inside a spiny, green husk. The fruit is ripe when it is easily removed from the stem. The flavor resembles sour cherries and a little bit like a tomato. This plant has been used as a trap crop to protect potatoes from potato cyst nematode. The stems and leaves contain solasodine which makes the plant very resistant to many pests and diseases, with the exception of potato beetles and tomato hornworms. It can also be used as a hedge plant to keep animals out of a garden, because it is covered with prickles (erroneously called thorns).

Description

A herb or small shrub. It grows 1-1.3 m high. The stems are 1-1.5 cm across. It has spines 1-1.3 mm long. The leaves are simple alternate. They are 20 cm long by 12 cm wide. The leaves have lobes. There are teeth along the edges. There are spines on the veins. The flowers are at the ends of branches. They occur singly. The fruit is round and 2 cm across. It is in a spiny case. This opens to reveal the red fruit.

Edible Uses

Fruit. The bright-red fruit is a spherical or depressed-spherical berry 12 - 16mm in diameter. The fruiting calyx is accrescent and wraps tightly around the developing fruit, opening out as the fruit ripens. There are 2 - 20 fruits per infructescence.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are sweet and eaten raw. They are probably best to be cooked. It is used for marmalades and jellies. CAUTION: There are some reports of poisoning children. The seeds are poisonous.

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

A tropical plant. In Bolivia it grows up to 2500 m altitude. In Ecuador it grows between 2,000-3,000 m above sea level. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 1,700 m above sea level.

Where It Grows

Africa, Andes, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil*, Chile, China, Colombia, Ecuador*, Eswatini, India, Korea, Paraguay, Slovenia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America*, Swaziland, Uruguay,

Cultivation

Succeeds in most soils. Plants are not very hardy outdoors in Britain, though they can be grown as spring-sown annuals. In milder almost frost-free climates they are perennial.

Propagation

Sow seed in early spring in a warm greenhouse. Prick seedlings out into individual pots when large enough to handle and plant out after the last expected frosts.

Other Uses

None known

Other Information

It is a cultivated plant. The fruit are enjoyed by children.

Notes

There are about 1400 Solanum species.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Espina colorada, Guinda pampa, Guindilla, Joa-das-taperas, Jua, Juciri, Jweelye, Mboi rembiu, Nuati pyta, Pocotillo, Puca-puca, Putui, Putuy, Quillo quillo, Revienta Caballo, Tomatillo, Toti'a, Toti'apintawa, Trnati paradižnik, Tutia, Viscid nightshade, Yag yemmek

References (30)

• Altschul, S.V.R., 1973, Drugs and Foods from Little-known Plants. Notes in Harvard University Herbaria. Harvard Univ. Press. Massachusetts. no. 4042
• Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 582
• Arenas, P. and Scarpa, G. F., 2006, Edible wild plants of the Chorote Indians, Gran Chaco, Argentina. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society. Vol. 153 (1): pp 73-85
• Brack, P., et al, 2020, Frutas nativas do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil: riqueza e potencial alimentício. Native fruits of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil: richness and potential as food. Rodriguésia 71: e03102018
• http://www.botanic-gardens-ljubljana.com/en/plants

More from Solanaceae

Solanum hermannii

Dead sea apple, Apple of Sodom

Solanum hieronymi

Najneno, Pocote

Solanum horridum

Solanum hygrothermicum

Moshaki, Cachariqui

Solanum hyporhodium

Cocona, Peach tomato

Solanum hystrix

Afghan Thistle