Solanum lycocarpum
Solanum lycocarpum
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[1]. Unless there are specific entries with information on edible uses, it would be unwise to ingest any part of this plant[PFAF].
Cultivation Details
A plant of tropical and subtropical areas at elevations up to 1,100 metres[2]. Requires a sunny position[2]. Found in a wide variety of well-drained soils in the wide, from sandy to heavy clays[2]. Succeeds in poor soils[2]. Established plants are very drought tolerant[2]. A fast-growing species, readily invading pasture-land, where it is considered to be a noxious weed[2]. The plant can flower all year round, but predominantly in the cooler season[2].
Propagation
Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe[2]. Sow the seed in a sunny position in a sandy soil in a nursery seedbed, only lightly covering the seed[2]. A high germination rate can be expected, with the seeds sprouting within 3 - 4 weeks. Seedlings grow away very quickly - pot them up into individual containers when they are 4 - 5cm tall and they should be ready to plant out into their permanent positions 4 - 5 months later[2]. Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Solanum+lycocarpum>
Pollinators
Data unavailable
References
- [1]Poisonous Plants of North Carolina — http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/poison/poison.htm ↩︎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.
- [2]Brazilian Trees. Volume 2. 4th Edition. — Lorenzi. H. · Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil. · 2002 · ISBN 85-86714-15-1 ↩︎Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
- [3]Estudo farmacobotânico comparativo de folhas de Solanum crinitum Lam., Solanum gomphodes Dunal e Solanum lycocarpum — Araújo N.D. et al · 2010 · http://10.1590/S0102-695X2010005000016 · ISBN 0102-695X ↩︎
- [PFAF]Plants for a Future — pfaf.org ↩︎