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Solanum aethiopicum 'Small Ruffled Red'
| Family Name: | Solanaceae |
| Synonyms: | Solanum aethiopicum 'Red Ruffles', Solanum aethiopicum 'Hmong Red', Solanum aethiopicum 'Ruffled Red' |
| Common Name: | Scarlet Eggplant, Pumpkin Bush, Pumpkin Tree, Pumpkin-on-a-stick, Mini Pumpkins, Mock Tomato, 红茄 |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Herbaceous Plant |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Shrubby |
| Maximum Height | 0.9 m to 1.2 m |
| Maximum Plant Spread / Crown Width | 0.6 m to 1.2 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Northern Thailand |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Mountain) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Others - Plant Morphology | Herbaceous shrub, up to 1.2m height when planted in ground. Stems blackish-purple, with spines. Leaves bluish-green, margins coarsely toothed, veins purplish and spiny. Flowers purplish, insect-pollinated. Fruits are highly-ornamental berries with multiple longitudinal grooves, resembling miniature pumpkins (5cm across), produced in clusters, ripening from green to yellow-orange to bright red. Plant is suitable in pots or sunny flowerbed. Able to bear fruits around 100 days after being sown as seed. Species epithet 'aethiopicum' derived from Aethiops, African son of Vulcan (god of metalwork and fire in Greek mythology) and a reference to the African origin of the species form. 'Small Ruffled Red' is said to hail from northern Thailand, and thus also commonly known as Hmong Red Eggplant, after the Hmongs (a mountainous Thai tribe). Cultivated throughout the highlands in Asia for edible fruits.Related to other familar vegetables from the Solanum genus, such as Eggplant / Brinjal (Solanum melongena) and Potato (Solanum tuberosum). |
|---|---|
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Edible Plant Parts : Edible Fruits Food (Fruit or Vegetable) (Herb or Spice) Others: Fruits edible and used in Asian stir-fry, somewhat seedy with bitterish flavour, but reportedly good with Thai spices. Bitterness varies with amount of saponin content. Fruits usually harvested prior to full ripeness, before skin thickens. Fruits can be used fresh or dried in floral arrangements. Also reported to be medicinal. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Foliage, Ornamental Fruits, Ornamental Stems |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Flowerbed / Border, Focal Plant, Container Planting |
| Thematic Landscaping | Economic Garden |
| Usage Hazard - Cons | Spines/Thorns - Stem/Branch, Spines/Thorns - Leaf, Toxic Upon Ingestion |
| Usage Hazard - Cons Remarks | Spines on stems and leaf veins. Parts of plant may be toxic. |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Easy to Grow, Fertile Loamy Soils, Well-Drained Soils |
| Maintenance Requirements | Moderate |
| Propagation Method | Seed, Stem Cutting |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Blue, Green, Purple |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Velvety / Furry / Tomentose, Scaly, Spiny / Bristly / Stinging |
| Foliar Modification | Spine (axillary) |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Whorled |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Oval) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Dentate |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acuminate |
| Foliar Base | Rounded / Obtuse |
| Typical Foliar Area | Mesophyll ( 45cm2 - 182.25 cm2 ) |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 4.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Dicot) |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Stem Type & Modification | Herbaceous |
|---|---|
| Root Type | Underground (Fibrous Root) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Purple, White |
|---|---|
| Flower Symmetry | Radial |
| Flowering Habit | Polycarpic |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Red |
|---|---|
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
| Fruit Type | Fleshy Fruit , Berry |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 29126 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 3435 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
