''Solanum abutiloides'' is a species of plant in the family

Solanaceae The Solanaceae , or nightshades, are a family of flowering plants that ranges from annual and perennial herbs to vines, lianas, epiphytes, shrubs, and trees, and includes a number of agricultural crops, medicinal plants, spices, weeds, and orn ...

. It is endemic to Argentina and

Bolivia , image_flag = Bandera de Bolivia (Estado).svg , flag_alt = Horizontal tricolor (red, yellow, and green from top to bottom) with the coat of arms of Bolivia in the center , flag_alt2 = 7 × 7 square p ...

, and thrives as a weedy plant in rocky land, on stream banks, and scrub land between in elevation. It is also known as dwarf tamarillo, due to superficial similarities with ''

Solanum betaceum The tamarillo (''Solanum betaceum'') is a small tree or shrub in the flowering plant family Solanaceae (the nightshade family). It is best known as the species that bears the tamarillo, an egg-shaped edible fruit. It is also known as the tree ...

''. Both plants are noted for very rapid growth from seed, and very strongly fragrant foliage. ''Solanum abutiloides'' is also sometimes known by the archaic ''Cyphomandra sibundoyensis''. ''Solanum abutiloides'' quickly matures into a shrub or small tree up to tall, though usually far smaller. Small flowers form on branches throughout the plant, and individual clusters of flowers can contain as many as 60 blooms. Blooms are followed by fruits - a small oblong berry that ripens to a yellow-orange color. The berries are around (or slightly larger) in diameter. When unripe, the berries are mildly toxic (as are tamarillos), though they are edible upon ripening.

Uses

The fruits are edible, though ''Solanum abutiloides'' is rare in cultivation and plants have not been bred for quality of flavor. Therefore, the fruit can often have an unpredictable or unpleasant flavor, and ''Solanum abutiloides'' is most often cultivated as an ornamental plant, as the clusters of ripe fruit are very decorative. As is common with Solanaceae, pests like aphids,

spider mites Spider mites are members of the Tetranychidae family, which includes about 1,200 species. They are part of the subclass Acari (mites). Spider mites generally live on the undersides of leaves of plants, where they may spin protective silk webs, a ...

, and

white flies Whiteflies are Hemipterans that typically feed on the undersides of plant leaves. They comprise the family Aleyrodidae, the only family in the superfamily Aleyrodoidea. More than 1550 species have been described. Description and taxonomy The ...

are attracted to the trees.

References

External links

* Edible Solanaceae Flora of Argentina Flora of Bolivia Tropical fruit Vulnerable plants abutiloides {{Solanales-stub