Solanum abutiloides
Encyclopedia
Solanum abutiloides is a species of plant
in the Solanaceae
family. It is endemic to Argentina
and Bolivia
, and thrives as a weedy plant in rocky land, on stream banks, and scrub land between 900-3600 meters in elevation. It is also known as dwarf tamarillo, due to superficial similarities with Solanum betaceum. Both plants are noted for very rapid growth from seed, and very strongly fragrant foliage. Solanum abutiloides is also sometimes known by the archaic Cyphomandra sibundoyensis.
Solanum abutiloides quickly matures into a shrub or small tree up to 9 m tall, though usually far smaller. Small flowers form on branches throughout the plant, and individual clusters of flowers can contain as many as 60 blooms.
Blooms are followed by fruits - a small oblong berry that ripens to a yellow-orange color. The berries are around 1 cm (or slightly larger) in diameter. When unripe, the berries are mildly toxic (as are tamarillos), though they are edible upon ripening.
As is common with solanaceae, pests like aphids, spider mites, and white flies are attracted to the trees.
Plant
Plants are living organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. Precise definitions of the kingdom vary, but as the term is used here, plants include familiar organisms such as trees, flowers, herbs, bushes, grasses, vines, ferns, mosses, and green algae. The group is also called green plants or...
in the Solanaceae
Solanaceae
Solanaceae are a family of flowering plants that include a number of important agricultural crops as well as many toxic plants. The name of the family comes from the Latin Solanum "the nightshade plant", but the further etymology of that word is unclear...
family. It is endemic to Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
and Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
, and thrives as a weedy plant in rocky land, on stream banks, and scrub land between 900-3600 meters in elevation. It is also known as dwarf tamarillo, due to superficial similarities with Solanum betaceum. Both plants are noted for very rapid growth from seed, and very strongly fragrant foliage. Solanum abutiloides is also sometimes known by the archaic Cyphomandra sibundoyensis.
Solanum abutiloides quickly matures into a shrub or small tree up to 9 m tall, though usually far smaller. Small flowers form on branches throughout the plant, and individual clusters of flowers can contain as many as 60 blooms.
Blooms are followed by fruits - a small oblong berry that ripens to a yellow-orange color. The berries are around 1 cm (or slightly larger) in diameter. When unripe, the berries are mildly toxic (as are tamarillos), though they are edible upon ripening.
Uses
The fruits are edible, though Solanum abutiloides is rare in cultivation and plants have not been bred for quality of flavor. Therefore, the fruit can often have an unpredictable or unpleasant flavor, and Solanum abutiloides is most often cultivated as an ornamental plant, as the clusters of ripe fruit are very decorative.As is common with solanaceae, pests like aphids, spider mites, and white flies are attracted to the trees.