Solanum macrocarpon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Solanum macrocarpon |
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Solanum
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macrocarpon
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Solanum macrocarpon is a plant often called the African eggplant. People also know it as the Surinamese eggplant (Antroewa) or Vietnamese eggplant (cà pháo). It belongs to the Solanaceae family, just like tomatoes and potatoes. This plant is a tropical plant that lives for many years. It is very similar to the regular eggplant you might see in stores.
Solanum macrocarpon first grew in West Africa. Now, you can find it all over Central and East Africa. It also grows in the Caribbean, South America, and parts of Southeast Asia. People grow this plant for many reasons. They use it as food, for its helpful medicinal uses, and sometimes just as a pretty plant.
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What Does the African Eggplant Look Like?
The African eggplant plant can grow to be about 1 to 1.5 meters tall. That's like a person's height! Its leaves grow in an alternating pattern along the stem. Each leaf is usually 4 to 15 centimeters wide and 10 to 30 centimeters long. The leaves are oval-shaped with wavy edges. Both sides of the leaves are a bit hairy.
Some types of these plants have small, sharp prickles on their leaves, especially along the main veins. These prickles can be up to 13 millimeters long. The flowers are usually purple or light purple, but sometimes they are white. They are about 3 to 8 centimeters wide. Each flower cluster can have 2 to 7 flowers. The flowers at the bottom of the plant have both male and female parts, while the ones at the top are only male.
The Fruit of the African Eggplant
The fruits are round, but a bit flat on the top and bottom. They have grooves and are about 5 to 7 centimeters long and 7 to 8 centimeters wide. When they are young, the fruits can be green, ivory, or even purple and white with dark stripes. As they get ripe, they turn yellow or yellowish-brown.
Inside the fruit, there are many small seeds. These seeds are about 3 to 4.5 millimeters long. In Vietnam, the fruits are often about 1.5 inches across, looking a bit like a golf ball with a stem. They can be medium green, light green, or white with green stripes.
Where Does the African Eggplant Grow?
There are many different types of Solanum macrocarpon. It grows best in places with lots of rain, like the tropical and humid areas of West and Central Africa. You can also find it in Southeast Asia, South America, and the Caribbean. Some types can even grow in drier areas like the savanna in Northern Ghana and Burkina Faso. These types usually have smaller leaves and fruits.
How Does the African Eggplant Grow and Reproduce?
Solanum macrocarpon mostly reproduces by itself. This means it can pollinate its own flowers. Bees and other insects can also help spread pollen, but this happens less often. The flowers open early in the morning, even before it's fully light outside. The part of the flower that receives pollen is ready a few hours before the flower opens and stays ready for two days.
The fruits are ready to be picked about 3 to 4 weeks after the flower turns into a fruit. However, it takes about 10 weeks for the fruits to become fully ripe. The seeds usually start to sprout about a week after they are planted. The plant won't start to flower until 2 to 3 months after the seeds sprout. Plants that grow in drier savanna areas tend to flower earlier than those in very rainy places. These savanna plants are also better at handling dry conditions.
How Do People Use African Eggplant?
People around the world eat Solanum macrocarpon. They eat both the fruits and the young leaves. Even though both the leaves and the fruit can taste quite bitter, they are full of good nutrients.
The fruit has a unique crunchy texture and a mild flavor. You can eat it raw without peeling it. The Vietnamese eggplant often has a slightly bitter taste. This bitterness can get stronger if the eggplant is very ripe. When raw, the Vietnamese eggplant doesn't smell much. But when you cook it, it gets an earthy smell. People use Vietnamese eggplants in stir-fries, soups, and salads. They also eat them raw or pickled.
Medicinal Uses of African Eggplant
Different parts of S. macrocarpon have been used as medicine. In Nigeria, people use the fruit to help with digestion and to treat heart problems. They also chew on the flowers to clean their teeth. In Sierra Leone, people heat the leaves and chew them to help with a sore throat.
In Kenya, people boil the roots and drink the juice to help get rid of certain stomach worms. The root is also used for breathing problems like bronchitis and asthma. It can also help with body aches and make wounds heal faster. The seeds of S. macrocarpon can be crushed to help with toothaches. Scientists have also found that parts of the plant might help fight snails that carry certain diseases.
Is African Eggplant Safe to Eat?
While the fruit is eaten, other parts of the Solanum macrocarpon plant have been reported to cause problems for dogs, like heart issues and tiredness. Because S. macrocarpon is in the nightshade family, it contains natural chemicals called alkaloids. These chemicals give the plant and fruit their bitter taste. Eating too much of the plant might not be safe. Some studies have shown that the levels of certain alkaloids in the fruit might be higher than what is usually considered safe for humans.
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