Solanum incanum

"Bitterball" redirects here. For the Dutch food, see Bitterballen.

Solanum incanum is a species of nightshade, a flowering plant in the family Solanaceae. It is native to East Africa, West Africa, the Middle East, and eastwards to India. The species was introduced to Taiwan and Vietnam.^[3]

Solanum incanum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Solanales
Family:	Solanaceae
Genus:	Solanum
Subgenus:	Solanum subg. Leptostemonum
Section:	Solanum sect. Melongena
Species:	S. incanum
Binomial name
Solanum incanum L.[1]
Synonyms[2]
Solanum coagulans var. griseum Dunal Solanum floccosistellatum Bitter Solanum hierochuntinum Dunal Solanum hierochuntinum var. lanuginosum Dunal Solanum incanum var. brevitomentosum Bitter Solanum incanum subsp. horridescens Bitter Solanum incanum var. integrascens Bitter Solanum incanum var. kavirondoense Bitter Solanum incanum var. pluribaccatum Bitter Solanum incanum subsp. schoanum Bitter Solanum incanum var. unguiculatum (A.Rich.) Abedin, Al-Yahya, Chaudhary & J.S.Mossa Solanum sanctum L., nom. superfl. Solanum undulatum Poir. Solanum unguiculatum A.Rich.

Common names include thorn apple, bitter apple,^[1] bitterball^[4] and bitter tomato^[5][6] It may be confused with the similar S. linnaeanum where their ranges overlap in Africa. In ancient India, Solanum incanum was domesticated into the eggplant, Solanum melongena.^[7][8][9] In biblical literature, it is sometimes referred to as a "hedge of thorns" (Hebrew: מְשֻׂכַת חָדֶק).^[10]

Gallery

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References

1. "Solanum incanum". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 12 January 2010.
2. "Solanum incanum L." Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
3. "Solanum incanum L. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2021-09-20.
4. Abstracts on Tropical Agriculture. January 1990. p. 57.
5. Dr.Thimmaiah. "Bitter Tomato : A Potential Underutilized Crop". Retrieved 2021-05-27.
6. "Solanum incanum (grey bitter-apple)". www.cabi.org. Retrieved 2021-05-27.
7. Tsao and Lo in "Vegetables: Types and Biology". Handbook of Food Science, Technology, and Engineering by Yiu H. Hui (2006). CRC Press. ISBN 1-57444-551-0.
8. Doijode, S. D. (2001). Seed storage of horticultural crops (pp 157). Haworth Press: ISBN 1-56022-901-2
9. Ancestor of brinjal Solanum incanum
10. Proverbs 15:19

External links

Media related to Solanum incanum at Wikimedia Commons Data related to Solanum incanum at Wikispecies

• "Solanum incanum L., Sp. Pl. 188. 1753". Solanaceae Source. Natural History Museum.
• Solanum incanum L., Prota database Archived 2015-02-13 at the Wayback Machine
• Solanum incanum in West African plants – A Photo Guide.