Fruit for wolves
Solanum lycocarpum

Family: Solanaceae

What it is like

A medium sized prickly shrub. It can have many branches. It grows to 3-5 m tall. The branches are twisted and thorny. They are fragile. The trunk is twisted and 15-30 cm across. The bark is thick and cracked. The leaves are large and withered. The edges are wavy. Leaves have white hairs which shine in the sunlight. The flowers can occur singly or in groups at the ends of branches. The fruit is yellow and resembles a tomato. The pulp has a strong smell. Fruit are 8-15 cm across.

The fruit is eaten by the maned wolf.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It is native to scrub land in Brazil. It grows in most areas of Brazil.

Countries/locations it is found in

Brazil, Paraguay, South America

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten fresh or used in jams and jellies. CAUTION: The fruit is poisonous when unripe.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

The ripe fruit are harvested and put into a plastic bag to soften and allow the seeds to be removed. They are washed in running water. Fresh seed are planted and they germinate in 3-4 weeks. Seedlings can be transplanted into the field in 4-5 months.

It is fast growing.

Its other names

Local names

Berinjela, Cachorro, Fruta-de-lobo, Lobeira

Synonyms

Solanum grandiflorum var. macrocarpum Hassl.; Solanum grandiflorum var. pulverulentum Sendtn.; Solanum grandiflorum f. apaense Chodat & Hassl.; Solanum grandiflorum f. paraguariensis Chodat & Hassl. Solanum lycocarpum subsp. macrophyllum Hassl.; Solanum lycocarpum var. decalvatum Witasek; Solanum lycocarpum var. genuinum (A.St.-Hil.) Hassl.; Solanum lycocarpum var. macrocarpum (Hassl.) Hassl.; Solanum lycocarpum var. paraguariense (Chodat & Hassl.) Hassl.; Solanum rupincola var. macrocarpum (Hassl.) Chodat; Solanum undatum Walsh;