Wild oceanic nightshade
Solanum japonense
Family: Solanaceae
What it is like
A soft vine. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 1-5 m high. The young branches are hairy. The leaves are triangle or sword shaped. They are 3-9 cm long by 2-5 cm wide. The edges are wavy. They can have 3 or 5 lobes. The flowers are purple. They are in groups in the axils of leaves. The fruit are round berries 1 cm across. They are bright red. The seeds are kidney shaped and 2 mm across.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. In China it grows between 2,400-2,900 m altitude. In Sichuan and Yunnan.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, China, Japan, Korea
How it is used for food
The leafy shoots are eaten as a potherb.
Edible parts
Leaves