Solanum stramoniifolium
Solanaceae FAMILY

Solanum stramoniifolium

Solanum stramoniifolium

Edibility
3/5
Medicinal
0/5

Safety & 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[ 293 Title Poisonous Plants of North Carolina Publication Author Website http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/poison/poison.htm Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent concise but comprehensive guide to toxic plants that grow in N. Carolina. It lists even those plants that are of very low toxicity, including several well-known food plants such as carrots and potatoes. ]. Unless there are specific entries with information on edible uses, it would be unwise to ingest any part of this plant[ K Title Plants for a Future Author Ken Fern Description Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips. ].

Botanical Description

Solanum stramoniifolium is an erect or spreading perennial plant with very prickly, more or less woody stems. It can grow up to 2 metres tall and wide[ 435 Title Solanaceae Source Publication Author Website http://solanaceaesource.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Incredible detail on all the species in Solanum (now also including the Tomatoes which were formerly in Lycopersicon). The site will eventually include all other Genera within the Solanaceae. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, It is occasionally cultivated in Colombia and Peru for the edible fruits.

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical
Native RangeS. America - northern Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guyanas.
HabitatSavannah, ecotones between forest and savannah, forest openings, along riverbanks; in open sun or partial shade; often as a weed in clearings, pastures, fields, secondary thickets, trailsides, round human habitations; at elevations to 600 metres[ 435 Title Solanaceae Source Publication Author Website http://solanaceaesource.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Incredible detail on all the species in Solanum (now also including the Tomatoes which were formerly in Lycopersicon). The site will eventually include all other Genera within the Solanaceae. ].