Wild tobacco tree
Solanum mauritianum

Family: Solanaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows 4 m tall. It has a woolly covering. The leaves are alternate. There are 2 leaf like structures near the base of the leaf. These are 0.5-2 cm long. The leaves are oval to sword shaped and 10-30 cm long by 4.5-14 cm wide. They taper to the tip. There are many flowers together at the tip of the branches or in the axils of leaves. The fruit is a round berry. It is dull yellow and 10-15 mm wide. It is hairy at first. The seeds are 1.5-2 mm long.

There are about 1400 Solanum species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It is native to Argentina. It grows on waste ground. In East Africa it grows between 1,500-2,800 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Brazil, Cook Islands, East Africa, East Timor, Eswatini, Fiji, Hawaii, India, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Norfolk Island, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, St Helena, Swaziland, Tasmania, Timor-Leste, Uruguay, Vanuatu, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

CAUTION: The fruit are poisonous.

Edible parts

Fruit, caution

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Asian bug tree, Hus, Malulua branca

Synonyms

Solanum auriculatum Aiton;