Children’s tomato
Solanum indicum subsp. distichum

Family: Solanaceae

What it is like

A herb or small shrub. It grows 1 m tall. The leaves are alternate and narrowly oval. They are 8 cm long by 4 cm wide and are wavy. The fruit are orange-red. They are 1 cm across.

There are about 1400 Solanum species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. In Nigeria it is recorded at 1,700 and 2,100 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Cameroon, Central Africa, Congo DR, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Equatorial Guinea, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Uganda, West Africa

How it is used for food

The fruit are cooked and used as a vegetable and flavouring.

Edible parts

Leaves, fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Anzuwe, Atanga, Bilolo, Guri, Ikalu, Kasongo, Katunkuma, Lukambo, Mgbako, Namatala, Ngbaku, Nsui, Nzagi, Oli, Uli

Synonyms

Solanum distichum Schumach. & Thonn.;