Bitter greens
Cestrum latifolium

Family: Solanaceae

What it is like

A shrub or slender tree. It grows 4 m tall. The flowers are in tufts in the axils of leaves. There are 4-12 flowers in a group. The fruit is an oval berry. It is 0.7 cm long by 0.5 cm wide. The fruit are green to dark purplish-blue. There are 3-4 seeds.

There are about 175-200 Cestrum species. The fruit are used as fish poison.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in coastal areas and in open savanna forest and on slopes. It grows in moist rich soil and can be in full sun or light shade.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Central Africa, Central America, Congo, Guatemala, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Indonesia, Panama, SE Asia, South America (country/location of origin), Suriname, West Indies

How it is used for food

CAUTION: Many Cestrum are poisonous.

Sold in markets.

Edible parts

Leaves, fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds or tip cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Barriga de sapo, Bella de noche, Bita wiwiri, Cazabe, Ciruelilla, Ciruelo de monte, Clavito, Daun pahit, Ke tipen

Synonyms

Cestrum albopunctatum Dunal; Cestrum billbergianum Beurl.; Cestrum chloranthum Dunal; Cestrum floribundum Willd. ex Roem. & Schult.; Cestrum hirtum Sieber ex Sendtn.; Cestrum latifolium var. genuinum Stehlé ex Fournet; Cestrum latifolium var. tenuiflorum (Kunth) O.E. Schulz; Cestrum oliganthum Dunal; Cestrum oliganthum var. latifolium Dunal; Cestrum ovatum Willd. ex Roem. & Schult.; Cestrum poeppigii Sendtn.; Cestrum prieurei Dunal; Cestrum tenuiflorum Kunth; Cestrum tenuifolium Francey; Cestrum vespertinum Griseb.;