Solanum tettense
Solanum tettense
Safety & Hazards
The preparation and use of arrow poison made from the roots is practised by bushmen in Namibia[1]. Accidental feeding on the plant causes disorders in cattle (crazy cow syndrome) characterized by epileptic-like attacks. The poison acts on the central nervous system and the functions of the cerebellum, but does not cause fatal poisoning[1].
Cultivation Details
The plant thrives under both moist and semi-arid conditions in the Tropics, where it can be found at elevations up to 1,600 metres[1].
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. Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Solanum+tettense>
Pollinators
Data unavailable
References
- [1]Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. — http://www.prota.org ↩︎An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
- [2]Flora of Somalia — Thulin M. (Editor) · Kew Publishing, London. · 1993 ↩︎Detailed information on the plants of the region, often adding notes on the plants uses.
- [3]Pharmacographia Indica — Dymock W.; Warden C.J.H.; Hooper D. · Education Society's Press, Byculla; Mombai. · 1890 · http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org ↩︎Information on the principal plant medicines encountered in India in the 19th century.