Status:
valid
Authors:
Scop.
Source:
SolanaceaeSource.org
Year:
1788
Citation Micro:
Delic. Fl. Faun. Insubr. 3: 16. 1788.
WFO Identifier:
wfo-0001029408
Common Names
- Mauritian Nightshade
- Tropical Soda Apple
- Pineapple Apple
Description
Solanum mauritianum (also called 'Mauritian Nightshade' and 'Mauritian Potato', among many other common names) is a shrub or small tree native to Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina. It grows in open woodlands, grasslands, and scrublands, and is often found in disturbed habitats.
Uses & Benefits
Solanum mauritianum is used as an ornamental plant in gardens and as a groundcover. It is also used as a food source for livestock and as a medicinal plant for treating various ailments.
Flower, Seeds and Seedlings
The flower of Solanum mauritianum is white and star-shaped, with five petals and yellow anthers. The seed is a round, black berry, containing several small, hard seeds. The seedlings are small, with a single pair of cotyledons and a single stem.
Cultivation and Propagation
Solanum mauritianum can be propagated by seed or cuttings. Seeds should be sown in a well-draining soil mix and kept moist until germination. Cuttings should be taken from healthy, mature plants and rooted in a moist soil mix. Both methods should be done in a warm, sunny location.
Where to Find Solanum mauritianum
Solanum mauritianum can be found in the Andes Mountains of South America.
Species in the Solanum genus
Solanum aemulans,
Solanum blanco-galdosii,
Solanum brucheri,
Solanum edinense,
Solanum michoacanum,
Solanum procurrens,
Solanum rechei,
Solanum sambucinum,
Solanum vallis-mexici,
Solanum abitaguense,
Solanum abollatum,
Solanum abortivum,
Solanum absconditum,
Solanum abutilifolium,
Solanum abutiloides,
Solanum acanthodapis,
Solanum acanthodes,
Solanum acaule,
Solanum accrescens,
Solanum acerifolium,
Solanum achorum,
Solanum acroglossum,
Solanum acropterum,
Solanum acroscopicum,
Solanum actaeibotrys,
Solanum actephilum,
Solanum aculeastrum,
Solanum aculeatissimum,
Solanum acuminatum,
Solanum acutilobum,
Solanum adenobasis,
Solanum adenophorum,
Solanum adoense,
Solanum adscendens,
Solanum adspersum,
Solanum aethiopicum,
Solanum affine,
Solanum africanum,
Solanum agnewiorum,
Solanum agnoston,
Solanum agrarium,
Solanum agrimoniifolium,
Solanum ajanhuiri,
Solanum alatirameum,
Solanum albescens,
Solanum albicans,
Solanum albidum,
Solanum albornozii,
Solanum albostellatum,
Solanum aldabrense,
Species in the Solanaceae family