Kangaroo apple, Large flowered Kangaroo apple
Solanum laciniatum
Family: Solanaceae
What it is like
An erect shrub. It is soft wooded. It can be 3 m tall. It can spread 2-3 m wide. It has bluish-purple leaves. It is short lived. It becomes spreading and straggly with age. The leaves are lobed and 30 cm long. They are deeply divided and dark green. The flowers are deep purple-blue with wavy edges. The flowers are larger than Solanum aviculare. The flowers are 5 cm across. The fruit are round and green. They are 2-3 cm across. They change to yellow-orange on maturity.
There are about 1400 Solanum species.
Where it is found
It is a warm temperate to subtropical plant. It suits sandy areas. It often grows after fire. It grows in damp and shaded places. It suits hardiness zones 9-11. Tasmania Herbarium. In Sichuan and Yunnan. Arboretum Tasmania.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Australia (country/location of origin), China, New Zealand, Tasmania (country/location of origin)
How it is used for food
The ripe fruit can be eaten. They must be very ripe and soft. They can be put into sand to ripen. The fruit can be used in chutney.
Edible parts
Fruit, flowers
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from seed or cuttings.
Its other names
Local names
Large poroporo, Mayakitch, Meakitch, Mookitch