Eggplant, Brinjal, Aubergine
Solanum melongena

Family: Solanaceae

What it is like

A perennial shrubby herb up to 1 m tall. It is often grown as an annual. It has a deep taproot and branched side roots. The stem is thick and covered with many woolly hairs. The plant has many branches. Often the plant is spiny. The leaves are large, alternate and simple. They are angular and unequal near the stalk. Leaves can be 20 cm long and wavy along the edge. Leaves are covered with hairs. Flowers are bluish red and 5 cm across. They are either solitary or in small groups opposite the leaves. They have 5 large woolly lobes which continue to surround the base of the fruit. Fruit are white, blue, green or purple. The fruit colour and shape vary. Sometimes the fruit is spiny. Often the fruit are 10 to 20 cm long and 5-8 cm wide. Numerous kidney shaped seeds are in the flesh of the berry. There are many cultivated varieties.

There are about 1400 Solanum species. It possibly has anti-cancer properties.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. A plant of the warm tropics. Plants grow from sea level up to 2200 m altitude in the tropics. It suits wet climates but does well in dry climates with irrigation. It needs a long warm growing period. A daily mean temperature of 20-30°C is most suitable. They are frost tender. They need a rich, friable, well tilled soil. In the subtropics they can be grown as a summer crop. In Nepal plants grow to 1500 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 9-12.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Albania, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Asia, Australia, Austria, Balkans, Bangladesh, Benin, Botswana, Brazil, British Indian Ocean Terr., BIOT, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Caucasus, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Central Asia, Chad, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo DR, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Europe, Fiji, France, FSM, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guam, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, India (country/location of origin), Indochina, Indonesia, Iraq, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Liberia, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Marquesas, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mediterranean, Mexico, Micronesia, Middle East, Moldova, Monaco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, North Africa, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Pohnpei, Rotuma, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Sikkim, Singapore, Slovenia, Somalia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, South Sudan, Spain, Sri Lanka, St. Vincent and Grenadines, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Turkey, Türkiye, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, Uruguay, USA, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Wallis & Futuna, West Africa, West Indies, West Timor, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

Fruit are mostly fried then eaten. They can also be grilled, baked, stuffed and stewed. They are used in curries. The fruit are also dried and stored. The leaves although edible are hairy and not good flavour. They are mixed with rice bran and salt in which Japanese radishes are pickled.

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. Occasionally seen in most areas of Papua New Guinea.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seeds. Seeds germinate slowly. At the best temperature they germinate in 8-12 days. Seed are sown in nursery beds. Seedlings can be transplanted when about 8 cm tall or 4-6 weeks old. Plants need to be about 60-100 cm apart. Because some cross pollination can occur seed crops need to have varieties planted 400 m apart.

Fruit are ready for harvest after 3 months. They continue to yield for 3-4 months.

Its other names

Local names

Afufa, Ai gua, Ai kwa, Badanekayi, Badanjan, Baigan, Baigani, Baigun, Baingan, Baingar, Baingano, Bartaku, Batanse, Baklazhan, Begun, Berenjena, Berinjela, Bhanta, Bhantaki, Boulanger, Bringanya, Bunzu, Chirivanga, Dodda badane, Egipalanti, Ekkplant, Eruvanga, Gaji, Ga sebe, Gauta, Gbo agbitsa, Gbolo, Hingoli, Igba-aja, Igbo, Jajčevec, Jati bengani, Jubloks, Jukutam, Kaji, Kathirikai, Kattarikkai, Khayan, Khayan-sat, K poni-gojo, Kuli-begun, Lahopipi, Litnga-shaba, Ma khuea, Magringala, Mahoti hinpoli, Mak-hku, Makhua terung, Ma-kobokobo, Manta, Mbolongu, Melensaano, Mendautuk-chi, Mettavangu, Mpilinganya, Nasu, Nasubi, Ngai gwa, Niruvanga, Ntoropo, Paigana, Panthao, Qie, Ringni, Sebe atorokpo, Shaba, Skwash, Ta-gau, Talong, Te baigan, Terong, Terung, Tionh, Trab veng, Umutoryi, Vambatu, Vangachettu, Vangi, Vangun, Vankaya, Vantak, Vartaku vatigama, Vataun, Vatigana, Vazhuthana, Vengni, Volbual, Yalo

Synonyms

Solanum insanum L.; Solanum esculentum Dunal;