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Solanum incanum

Authority L. Family Magnoliopsida:Asteridae:Solanales:Solanaceae Synonyms Common names apple of Sodam, bitter apple, bitterappel, hidi (Galinya), igba, inboye, Indian rennet, ingulla Editor Ecocrop code 9864

Notes
BRIEF DESCRIPTION A herb or shrub. Growing 0.9-1.2 m high as a herb and 1-3 m as a shrub. Stem and branchlets have stout prickles. The leaves are simple, ovate-elliptic, 2.5-12 cm long and 2.5-8 cm wide. The flowers are corolla purple-violet or white and the berries yellowish and 2-4 cm in diameter. USES The immature fruit is cooked as a vegetable and it also has medicinal properties. The seeds of variety paniya contain 3.8-4.8% of a glyco-alkaloid used in the synthesis of cortisone. GROWING PERIOD Biennial or perennial. Can be harvested first time after 90-120 days, and will continue to bear for about a year. COMMON NAMES Sodom apple, Local garden egg, Bitter apple, Bitter tomato, Jakatoo, Ma-kobo, Egbe, Igbo, Ikam, Gautan-kuuraa, Aaata, Kulufiitaa, Intobo, Umucucu, Angara-muo, Ndula, Bwantula, Bwanhula, Mtula, Ntufululu, Mnyanya-nvitu, Ntula, Nangali, Mdangu, Matulu, Indulele, Mtobotobo, Mtobolo, Ntunguja, Mnduele, Mdulamu, Mtulantu, Mudulukwa, Mtungujamito, Ikan. FURTHER INF Scientific synonyms: S. sanctum, S. esculentum, S. subexarmatum, S. delagoense, S. beniense. Sodom apple is native of tropical India and Africa and is common in the grassy highlands of Kenya. In Africa, it can be found at elevations between sea level and 2200 m or more. Yields are about 4 kg/plant per year. It is unpalatable to cattle and often considered a weed.
Sources
SOURCES (Solanum incanum L.) Tindall H 1983 pp 360-361 [TEXT, FER, RAIN, DRA, LIG] Duke J 1975 pp 27 [PH, RAIN, TEMP] Roecklein J 1987 pp 502 [USE] Aronson J 1989 pp 73 Iwu M 1993 pp 238 FAO For. Paper 67 pp 195 Iwu M 1993 pp 238 [USE, TEXT, RAIN]