Solanum asperum

L. C. Rich.

Boboro

SolanaceaeFruitPotential hazards — see below
Caution — Parts of this plant may be toxic or require specific preparation. Verify with multiple sources before consuming.
Solanum asperum
iNaturalist · cc-by-nc-nd
(c) Alex Popovkin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), uploaded by Alex Popovkin
Solanum asperum
iNaturalist · cc-by-nc-nd
(c) Alex Popovkin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), uploaded by Alex Popovkin
Solanum asperum
iNaturalist · cc-by-nc-nd
(c) Gabriel Bonfa, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), uploaded by Gabriel Bonfa

What to Eat

Edible parts: Fruit

The round yellow fruits are eaten.

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.

Where to Find It

It is a tropical plant.

Amazon, Brazil, Central America, Colombia, Ecuador, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Mexico, Panama, South America, Suriname, Trinidad, Venezuela,

Countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Belize, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Paraguay, Suriname, El Salvador, Trinidad & Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela

How to Identify

A shrub. It can grow 6 m tall. The fruit is round and yellow and about 1 cm across.

How to Grow

It can be grown by seed or cuttings.

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.

References (4)
  • Ferns, Useful Tropical Plants
  • Johnson, M. and Colquhoun, A., 1996, Preliminary Ethnobotanical Survey of Kurupukari: An Amerindian Settlement of Central Guyana. Economic Botany, Vol. 50, No. 2, pp. 182-194
  • Kermath, B. M., et al, 2014, Food Plants in the Americas: A survey of the domesticated, cultivated and wild plants used for Human food in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. On line draft. p 814
  • Roa, J. A. G. & Boada, D. S. G., 2018, Fundación para el Fortalecimiento de la Fruticultura y Plantas Alimenticias no Convencionales en Colombia.

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