Macawbush, Nipplefruit, Love apple
Solanum mammosum
Family: Solanaceae
What it is like
A herb or shrub. It grows 1.5 m high and spreads 0.9 m wide. It keeps growing from year to year. The whole plant has woolly hairs. There are prickles. The leaves are usually in pairs. The leaves are broadly oval and 5-12 cm long by 5-10 cm wide. They have prickles on the veins. There can be 5 lobes. The flowers are near the axils of the leaves and in groups of 3-4. They are purple. The fruit are yellow berries that are pear shaped and 5-7 cm long by 3-4 cm wide. They have lumps near the base. The ripe fruit are bright orange.
Where it is found
It is a tropical plant. It is native to tropical America. In southern China it grows between 200-1,300 m above sea level. In XTBG Yunnan. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Antigua & Barbuda, Asia, Australia, Barbados, Bolivia, Caribbean, Central Africa, Central America (country/location of origin), China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Ecuador, Greater Antilles, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Indochina, Jamaica, Laos, Malawi, Malaysia, Mexico (country/location of origin), Myanmar, Nicaragua, North America, Pacific, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Puerto Rico, SE Asia, South America (country/location of origin), Suriname, Thailand, Venezuela, West Indies, Zimbabwe
How it is used for food
The leaves are cooked as a vegetable. The ripe fruit are eaten. Caution: The green fruit are possibly poisonous.
It is cultivated.
Edible parts
Caution, fruit, leaves, vegetable
How it is grown
It is normally grown from seed.
Its other names
Local names
Atallpa hanpina, Berenjena de laguna, Ccocona'cho, Chichigua, Chuchu laran, Curar gallinas, Estacudo, Guirito de pasion, Makuet nomling, Mutundu puka, Pechito, Teta de vaca, Tetitas, Torito, Turi soquio
Synonyms
Solanum globiferum Dunal; Solanum mammosum var. corniculum Ridl.; Solanum mammosissimum Ram Goyena; Solanum platanifolium Hook.;