Thorny nightshade, Yellow-berried nightshade
Solanum virginianum
Family: Solanaceae
What it is like
A herb. It can be erect or creeping. It can be woody at the base. It grows 50-70 cm tall. It has needle like prickles. It is also hairy. The leaves are in unequal pairs. They are 4-9 cm long by 2-5 cm wide. There are usually 5-9 lobes. The flowers are in groups 4-7 cm long. They are blue to purple. The fruit is a pale yellow berry. It is 1-2 cm across. The seeds are almost kidney shaped.
Where it is found
It is a subtropical plant. It grows on sandy river beaches between 100-1,300 m above sea level in southern China. In Sichuan and Yunnan.
Countries/locations it is found in
Afghanistan, Africa, Asia, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, NW India, Pacific, SE Asia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam
How it is used for food
The unripe fruit are eaten. The fruit are used as a vegetable in curries. The leaves are eaten as a potherb. Caution: It contains solasodine the raw material for hormones.
Edible parts
Fruit, vegetable, root
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Bejari, Bhaskatiya, Bitter brinjal, Kandakathiri, Mulaka, Mye-bok-hkayan, Neeli kandhiari