Red bitter-apple
Solanum giganteum
Family: Solanaceae
What it is like
A shrub or small tree. It grows 3-5 m tall. The bark is pale grey to brown. The small branches are covered with thick white woolly hairs. There are also short straight prickles about 5 mm long. The leaves are oval and alternate. They are 23 cm long by 9 cm wide. They are dark green above and have dense white woolly hairs underneath. The leaf stalk is 2.5 cm long. The flowers are white to violet. They are 10 mm across. The occur in heads made up of many flowers and these are at the ends of branches. The fruit are almost round and fleshy. They are 10 mm across. They are bright red when ripe. These are in dense heads up to 20 cm across. The fruit are edible.
There are about 1400 Solanum species.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows in woodland and often in deep shade in forest clearings. It grows from sea level to 1,650 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Asia, Australia, East Africa, Eswatini, India, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Uganda, West Africa, Zimbabwe
How it is used for food
The fruit are used to curdle milk. The fruit are also eaten cooked in soups.
Edible parts
Fruit, seeds
How it is grown
A fruit weigh about 0.3 g.
Its other names
Local names
African holly, Cheruchunda, Chichurdi, Incubala-sendle, Khetshwatsha, Kutri, Omutarabusa, Putharichunda