Indian nightshade
Solanum lasiocarpum

Family: Solanaceae

What it is like

A small prickly herb. It grows up to 1 m high. The leaves are rough and thorny. They are also hairy. They are 16-17 cm long by 15-16 cm wide. There are lobes around the edges. The flowers are in groups on the sides. They have 5 white petals. The fruit are round and green. They are 2-4 cm across. They are covered with fine hairs. They have many seeds.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in humid places and dense forests between 200-1,000 m above sea level in southern China. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, SE Asia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The young fruit are cooked and eaten with fish. They are also eaten in salads.

It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Balbalosa, Bisula, Kantha sola, Mak oek, Mao qie, Terong dayak

Synonyms

Solanum immane Hance ex Walp.; Solanum lasicoarpum var. velutinum Dunal;