Native eggplant, African eggplant
Solanum macrocarpon

Family: Solanaceae

What it is like

An annual plant. It can keep groing for some years. The leaves are dark green and glossy. The leaf stalk is not well defined as the leaf blade runs down into the stalk. Leaves are generally not very hairy. The flowers are purple or sometimes white. The flowers are large. The fruit are are round and greenish white but become orange-yellow or brown when fully ripe. They are hard or firm with long calyces around the fruit.

There are about 1400 Solanum species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It suits the hot humid tropics. It grows up to 1,765 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Asia, Benin, Cameroon, Central Africa, Congo DR, Comoros, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Egypt, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, India, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, North Africa, Northeastern India, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The leaves are cooked and eaten. They are boiled or steamed and served as a side dish with rice. The water is discarded. The fruit are eaten cooked. They are used in soups and sauces.

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable.

Edible parts

Leaves, fruit, flowers, vegetable

How it is grown

Seeds can be grown in a nursery then transplanted.

Plants produce fruit over 60 to 120 days from planting. The unripe fruit or leaves are plucked off the plant.

Its other names

Local names

Akwaseho, Angivy, Atropo, Brembe, Bugorra, Bundom-dabu, Bussu, Chilo, Couve preta, Culuta Ete-eri, Djagato-bussu, Ede, Gboma eggplant, Igbo, Jacatu, Jagatu-de-lobo, Kade, Kpatakpako, Lezo, Mankessim, Mucussa, N'djaktu, N'sacraha, N'tabactu, Nakati nume, Ojagato-buruure, Ojagato-de-rato, Terong engkol, Terong gayung, Terong kalapa, Tikann'te, Tikawounfanti

Synonyms

Solanum macrocarpon L. var. calvum Bitter;