Solanum spp. (Solanaceae)
- Scientific name
- Solanum spp.
- Family name
- Solanaceae
- Common name
- Eggplant (English); nasu (Japanese)
- Local name
- Ma kuea
Fruits of various Solanum species are consumed as vegetables.
- Scientific name
- Solanum americanum Mill.
- Family name
- Solanaceae
Small, annual herb. Stem up to 90 cm tall, unarmed. Leaves spiral to almost opposite, blade ovate to ovate-lanceolate. Inflorescence an umbellate cyme, supra-axillary; flowers 4–8, bisexual, white. Fruit a globose berry, 0.5–1 cm in diameter, turning from green to glossy purplish black when ripe. Seeds numerous.
Young shoots and fruits are added to curries or steamed and eaten with nam phrik (dipping sauces).
- Scientific name
- Solanum nigrum L.
- Family name
- Solanaceae
Small herb. Similar to S. americanum Mill., but fruit smaller, less shiny, dull. Seeds 1.5–2 mm long.
Common weed in agricultural fields or abandoned areas; distributed throughout Thailand.
Young shoots are eaten raw or cooked, as a vegetable.
Young shoots are eaten raw or cooked, as a vegetable.
- Scientific name
- Solanum stramoniifolium Jacq. (Syn. S. stramoniifolium Jacq.)
- Family name
- Solanaceae
- Local name
- Ma-uk
Herb or small shrub, up to 2 m tall, densely stellately pubescent, unarmed or with sharp prickles. Leaves simple, alternate, broadly ovate, shallowly pinnatilobed, 5–40 × 3–40 cm; petiole 5–16 cm long. Inflorescence in leaf axils, cluster of up to 10 flowers; pedicel up to 2 cm long, unarmed or with prickles. Calyx broadly campanulate, enveloping fruit partly or completely, unarmed or with prickles. Corolla stellate, white or purple. Fruit globose berry, 2–3 cm in diameter, yellow, densely pubescent with long white stellate hairs, glabrescent. Seeds 2–2.5 mm long, pale yellow.
Commonly grown in backyard gardens.
Fruits are used to enhance sour flavours and add aroma to dipping sauce such as nam phrik ma-uk, which is mainly prepared in southern Thailand.
Fruits are used to enhance sour flavours and add aroma to dipping sauce such as nam phrik ma-uk, which is mainly prepared in southern Thailand.
- Scientific name
- Solanum melongena L.
- Family name
- Solanaceae
- Local name
- Makeua yaw
Small, short-lived perennial shrub, up to 120 cm tall, many-branched. Leaves simple, alternate, broadly ovate, shallowly lobed, 5–30 × 3–30 cm; petiole 5–10 cm long. Inflorescence in leaf axil, solitary or in clusters of few flowers; pedicel up to 2 cm long, unarmed or with prickles. Calyx broadly campanulate, partly enveloping fruit, unarmed or with prickles. Corolla stellate, white or purple. Fruit variable in size, shape, and colour; depressed globose, ellipsoid, or cylindrical; pure white to green or purple.
Among the most frequently cultivated species of genus Solanum.
- Scientific name
- Solanum violaceum Ortega
- Family name
- Solanaceae
- Local name
- Mawaeng-ton
Shrub, armed with prickles, 1–1.5 m tall, densely tomentose. Leaves variable, broadly ovate in outline, 3–15 × 2–12 cm, margin sinuate to deeply pinnately lobed, 2–3, glaucous green; petiole 1–6 cm long. Inflorescence leaf-opposed, up to 12- flowered. Calyx 5-lobed, campanulate. Corolla 5-lobed, stellate, c. 2.5 cm in diameter, pale to dark bluish-purple. Fruit globose, c. 1 cm in diameter, orange when ripe.
Young bitter fruits are eaten fresh with nam phrik (dipping sauces).
- Scientific name
- Solanum sanitwongsei Craib
- Family name
- Solanaceae
Similar to S. violaceum Ortega, but the plant has no prickles. It is eaten the same way as S. violaceum Ortega.
- Scientific name
- Solanum torvum Sw.
- Family name
- Solanaceae
- Local name
- Makheua puang
Similar to S. violaceaum, but leaves larger, fruits slightly larger, ripening black. Spreading or scrambling slender shrub, up to 3 m tall, pubescent with stellate hairs. Stem: prickles scattered on stem, branches, and leaves, particularly when young, 3–7 mm long, slightly hooked. Leaves simple, alternate, solitary or in pairs, sinuously triangular, 7-lobed, acute or obtuse. Inflorescence a corymb, compact, branched, 50–100 flowers; flowers hermaphrodite, upper ones may be male. Calyx 5-lobed, 3–4 mm long, persistent. Corolla stellate, 2.5 in diameter, white, 5-lobed, lanceolate, 1 cm long. Stamens 5, inserted on corolla throat, anthers alternate, 6–7 mm long, on very short filament. Ovary globose, pubescent; style 8–10 mm long. Fruit a globular berry, 1–1.5 cm in diameter, yellowish, glabrous, produced in clusters of few to 10. Seeds 300–400 per fruit, flat, 1.5–2 mm long, brown.
Common pantropical weed, found along roadsides and in wastelands; frequently grown in backyard gardens for its young fruits. Occasionally planted at large scales throughout Thailand. Propagated by seed sowing and then transplanting the seedlings to permanent sites.
Young fruits are eaten raw or boiled with nam phrik makheua puang (dipping sauces) or added to various curries. Young fruits contain 89 g water, 2 g protein, 0.1 g fat, 7.9 g carbohydrates, 50 mg calcium, 30 mg phosphorus, 2 mg iron, 750 IU vitamin A, 0.08 mg vitamin B1, and 80 mg vitamin C per 100-g serving.
Young fruits are eaten raw or boiled with nam phrik makheua puang (dipping sauces) or added to various curries. Young fruits contain 89 g water, 2 g protein, 0.1 g fat, 7.9 g carbohydrates, 50 mg calcium, 30 mg phosphorus, 2 mg iron, 750 IU vitamin A, 0.08 mg vitamin B1, and 80 mg vitamin C per 100-g serving.
- Scientific name
- Solanum trilobatum L.
- Family name
- Solanaceae
- Local name
- Mawaeng-kruea
Similar to S. violaceaum, but stems and leaves glossy green. Straggling shrub; fruits turn red when ripe.
Young bitter fruits are eaten fresh with nam phrik (dipping sauces).
Caution: Most Solanum species, especially wild forms, contain some amount of toxic alkaloids. However, due to continuous selection, alkaloid-free cultivars are cultivated and produce vegetables throughout Thailand.
Fruits
Flowers
Fruits
Fruits
Flowers
Scene at a market
Leaves
Fruits
Fruits
