Solanum repandum facts for kids

Solanum repandum is a type of evergreen shrub that grows naturally on islands across the southern Pacific Ocean. People sometimes grow it for its tasty fruit. It's also known by its local names, kokoua or huou.

This plant is not widely grown outside its home islands. It is quite rare to find it in gardens or farms elsewhere. Solanum repandum can mix with other similar plants, like the naranjilla from South America and Solanum lasiocarpum from India. This mixing is called hybridizing.

Solanum repandum looks very much like naranjilla (Solanum quitoense) and Solanum lasiocarpum. They grow in similar ways and their fruits are used in local cooking. Even though they come from different places, their fruits all have a special ring of bright green juice around the seeds. The fruit starts with tiny bristles, but these fall off when it gets ripe.

Meet the Nightshade Family

Solanum repandum belongs to the nightshade family. This family includes many plants we eat every day. Think of the tomato (S. lycopersicum), naranjilla (S. quitoense), and eggplant (S. melongena). All these are relatives of Solanum repandum.

Plant Relatives and Hybrids

Solanum repandum can easily cross-breed with other plants in its family. These include Solanum candidum, Solanum quitoense (naranjilla), Solanum lasiocarpum (Indian nightshade), and Solanum sessiliflorum (cocona). Sometimes, the new plants created from these mixes cannot have their own seeds.

Scientists are very interested in Solanum repandum and Solanum candidum. They think these two plants might be a link between similar plants found in Asia and South America. This helps them understand how plants spread and changed over time.

Where Does Solanum repandum Grow?

Solanum repandum is believed to grow naturally in many different island groups across the southern Pacific. Just like its relatives, the cocona, naranjilla, and Indian nightshade, this plant can produce fruit quickly. It can start making fruit within one or two years after being planted from a seed.

Growing Conditions and Challenges

This plant lives for a few years, but it needs a long time to grow fruit. This makes it hard to grow in places with colder weather. However, scientists are studying it. They hope to create new types of Solanum repandum through breeding. This could help it grow in more places.

Like most plants in the nightshade family, Solanum repandum can attract small bugs. These include aphids, white flies, beetles, and spider mites. These pests can also harm naranjillas and coconas.