Casana, Pepino de campo, Pepinillo
Cyphomandra cajanumensis

Family: Solanaceae

What it is like

A small tree. It grows 1-5 m tall. The branches can have soft hairs. The leaves are simple and without lobes except at the base. The leaves on the trunk are 26-40 cm long by 18-40 cm wide. The leaves at the top are in units of 3 that are 5-25 cm long by 4-18 cm wide. The flowering cluster can be simple or branched. There are 10-30 flowers. The fruit are oval and 5-10 cm long by 3-5 cm wide. They have soft hairs when young. The seeds are 4-5 mm long. They have a pattern on them.

There are about 30 Cyphomandra species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. In Peru it grows between 1,500-3,000 m altitude. It will probably grow in cool temperate climates.

Countries/locations it is found in

Andes, Columbia, Ecuador, New Zealand, Peru, South America

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten raw.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Cyphomandra casana Child; Pionandra cajanumensis (HBK) Miers; Solanum cajanumense Humboldt & Kunth;