Solanum terminale

Forsk.

SolanaceaeLeavesPotential hazards — see below

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What to Eat

Edible parts: Leaves

The leaves are eaten.

Known Hazards

The fruits are poisonous and have been used in the Central African Republic as a criminal poison. 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

A tropical plant. It grows at the edges of forests and along streams and in rocky places.

Africa, Angola, Arabia, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Comoros, Congo, East Africa, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Malawi, Middle East, Mozambique, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, West Africa, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

Countries: United Arab Emirates, Angola, Burkina Faso, Bahrain, Burundi, Benin, Botswana, Congo (DRC), Central African Republic, Congo (Republic), Cote d'Ivoire, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Djibouti, Algeria, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Gambia, Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Israel, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Kenya, Comoros, Kuwait, Lebanon, Liberia, Lesotho, Libya, Morocco, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Qatar, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Somalia, South Sudan, Sao Tome & Principe, Syria, Eswatini, Chad, Togo, Tunisia, Tanzania, Uganda, Yemen, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How to Identify

A woody climber. It grows 3-15 m long. The branches are hairy. The leaves are single. The leaf blade is 2-14 cm long by 1-7 cm wide. There are many flowers in a head. The fruit are orange or red and 5-10 mm across.

How to Grow

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.

Medicinal Uses

A leaf extract is drunk as an abortion-inducing drug and in Rwanda and Uganda it is drunk to induce labour in childbirth. A maceration of the leaves is used as a body wash, and also taken orally, in the treatment of kwashiorkor. A root decoction is filtered and applied as an enema as a mild purgative for children. A root extract is drunk as a stimulant and to induce sweating.

Other Uses

The stems are used as tying material when constructing fences and traditional buildings.

Notes

There are about 1400 Solanum species.

Names & Synonyms

Solanum bansoense subsp. sanaganum BitterSolanum bifurcatum Hochst. ex A. Rich.Solanum bifurcum Hochst.Solanum inconstans C. H. WrightSolanum plousianthemum DammerSolanum terminale subsp. inconstans (C. H. Wright) HeineSolanum terminale subsp. sanaganum (Bitter) Heine

References (5)

Fowler, D. G., 2007, Zambian Plants: Their Vernacular Names and Uses. Kew. p 85
Jardin, C., 1970, List of Foods Used In Africa, FAO Nutrition Information Document Series No 2.p 103
Martin, F.W. & Ruberte, R.M., 1979, Edible Leaves of the Tropics. Antillian College Press, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. p 220
Terra, G.J.A., 1973, Tropical Vegetables. Communication 54e Royal Tropical Institute, Amsterdam, p 73
World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew