Solanum torvum Sw.

Family: Solanaceae

Taxonomy: Plantae > Tracheophyta > Magnoliopsida > Solanales > Solanaceae > Solanum > Solanum torvum Sw.

Common name [English]: Pea Eggplant, Devil's Fig

Vernacular name [Malayalam]: ചുണ്ട

Nativity: Mexico to N. South America, Caribbean, E. Brazil

Habitat: Degraded forest areas and also in the plains

Description: Shrubs to 2 m tall. Stem densely stellate-hairy when young; prickles few, scattered. Leaves ovate, usually coarsely 2-3-sinulate, base obliquely subcordate, apex acute, stellately pubescent on both sides, dense on lower sides, chartaceous, scattered with a few prickles on midrib and on petiole; lateral nerves 4 or 5 pairs; petioles 1.5 - 3.5 cm long. Inflorescence supra-axillary, many-flowered corymbose cymes; peduncle to 5 cm long. Calyx tube 2-2.5 mm long, campanulate, lobes oblong. Corolla white, c. 2.5 cm across; lobes 5-6 mm long, ovate, pubescent outside. Berry 1-1.5 cm across, globose, pale green turning dull orange. Seeds discoid, smooth.

Flowering and Fruiting: July - March

Uses: Fruit is eaten as vegetable. Ayurveda, Folk medicine, Siddha, Traditional Chinese medicine

Cultivation: Wild and Cultivated

References

http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org

https://indiabiodiversity.org