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Solanum scabrum Mill.
| Family Name: | Solanaceae |
| Synonyms: | Solanum melanocerasum All., Solanum nigrum var. pterocaulon Schur, Solanum pterocaulon Dunal |
| Common Name: | Garden Huckleberry, 木龙葵 |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Shrub |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Annual |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Shrubby |
| Maximum Height | 1 m |
| Maximum Plant Spread / Crown Width | 1.2 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Tropical and Southern Africa, Western Indian Ocean. |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Non-native |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | An annual or short-lived perennial herbaceous plant, with sparse hairs. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Leaves are simple, broadly ovate to diamond-shaped or rounded, measuring 2 - 10 cm long and 2 - 6 cm wide. The leaf tip is acute, leaf base is cuneate or decurrent. It has entire, sinuate to sparingly dentate margin. |
| Stems | Erect stems, usually angular. |
| Flowers | Flowers are borne in clusters known as subumbellate, with unbranched peduncle. The calyx is cup-shaped, about 2 mm in diameter and has deltate-ovate lobes. The petals are white, about 1 cm in diameter, ovate lobes of 2.5 - 5 mm and hairy on the lower side of the petals. The flower has short filaments and pilose style. |
| Fruit | The fruiting pedicel is deflexed, while the fruiting calyx is reflexed. The berries are purplish black and somewhat shiny, globose-shaped, about 5 - 10 mm in diameter. |
| Habitat | It is found growing near roads, humid places in ravines and valleys, at 200 - 2700 m altitude in its native habitat. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Edible Plant Parts : Edible Fruits Food (Fruit or Vegetable): The leaves are eaten as vegetable in their native region, South Africa. Both the leaves and fruits of this species were said to have bitter taste. The fruit is not eaten in Africa. They should be fully ripened before consumption (fruit turns fully black in colour, and shiny sheen has dulled). <1> Others: The leaves and berries are source for dyes <2>.They are also used as fodder for cattles and goats in Africa. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Fruits |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Container Planting, Flowerbed / Border, Parks & Gardens, Small Gardens |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Hairy / Hirsute |
| Prominent Young Flush Colour(s) | Green |
| Young Flush Texture(s) | Hairy / Hirsute |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Alternate |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Ovate) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Entire |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acute |
| Foliar Base | Cuneate |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | White |
|---|---|
| Flower Texture(s) | Hairy / Hirsute |
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Axillary |
| Flower Symmetry | Radial |
| Individual Flower Shape | Stellate / Star-shaped |
| Inflorescence Type | Umbel |
| Flowering Period | Free-Flowering |
| Flowering Habit | Polycarpic |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Black |
|---|---|
| Mature Fruit Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
| Fruit Type | |
| Mature Seed Colour(s) | Orange, Yellow / Golden |
| Seed Description | Discoid seeds. |
| Seed Quantity Per Fruit | Numerous (>20) |
References
| References | <1> Prota4U. https://prota.prota4u.org/protav8.asp?g=pe&p=Solanum+scabrum. Accessed on 17 Dec 2024. <2> Fontem, D.A. & R.R. Schippers. (2004). Solanum scabrum Mill. Record from Protabase. G.J.H. Grubben & O.A. Denton, (Eds). PROTA (Plant Ressources of Tropical Africa / Ressources végétales de l`Afrique tropicale), Wageningen, Netherlands. http://www.prota.org/seach.htm. Accessed on 17 Dec 2024. |
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Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 34479 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 8892 |
| 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. |
