Cow eggplant, Love apple
Solanum aculeatissimum

Family: Solanaceae

What it is like

A soft shrub. It grows about 1 m tall. It is often grown as an annual. It has prickles. The leaves have lobes. The flowers are small and white. They are normally singly in the axils of leaves. The fruit are bright red. They are 5 cm across. These normally have ridges and lobes. They look like tomatoes.

There are about 1400 Solanum species. It is used in medicine. It can be invasive. It can affect the germination of some other seeds, including vegetables.

Where it is found

A subtropical plant. It grows between 1,000-2,400 m above sea level. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, America, Angola, Asia, Botswana, Brazil (country/location of origin), Burkina Faso, Central Africa, Central America, China, Congo, Costa Rica, East Africa, Eswatini, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Jamaica, Laos, Malawi, Malaysia, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, North America, Pacific, Paraguay, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Sudan, Swaziland, Thailand, Tibet, Trinidad-Tobago, West Africa, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The unripe fruit are roasted and eaten. They are also used in curries.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

It can be grown as a hedge.

Its other names

Local names

Arrebenta-cavalo, Chhorhenta, Joa do mato, Kantakari, Makuey leung, Melania, Mullu sunde, N'thula, Niu Qiezi, Rebenta-cavalo, Terong asam hutan, Terong kapal, Terong kori, Terong perat, Terong piat, Terong pusat, Terong tenang, Terung perat

Synonyms

Solanum khasianum C. B. Clarke;