Solanaceae FAMILY

Solanum simile

Edibility

1/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

Although providing many well-known foods for people, including the potato, tomato, pepper and aubergine, most species in this genus also contain toxic alkaloids. Whilst these alkaloids can make the plant useful in treaing a range of medical conditions, they can also cause problems such as nausea, vomiting, salivation, drowsiness, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, weakness and respiratory depression[ 293 Title Poisonous Plants of North Carolina Publication Author Website http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/poison/poison.htm Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent concise but comprehensive guide to toxic plants that grow in N. Carolina. It lists even those plants that are of very low toxicity, including several well-known food plants such as carrots and potatoes. ]. Unless there are specific entries with information on edible uses, it would be unwise to ingest any part of this plant[ K Title Plants for a Future Author Ken Fern Description Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips. ].

Botanical Description

Solanum simile is an erect shrub that can grow up to 200cm tall[ 365 Title Flora of New South Wales Publication Author Website http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/floraonline.htm Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line resource giving a brief botanical description of all the native plants of New South Wales, their habitat and range, together with diagrams and photographs of the plants. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental, where it can be used as a hedge.

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeAustralia - Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia.

HabitatArid environments, including coastal sands[ 152 Title Australian Medicinal Plants. Publication Author Lassak. E. V. and McCarthy. T. Publisher New Holland Publishers Year 2001 ISBN 1876334703 Description A very good and readable guide to the subject. ]. Disturbed soils[ 265 Title Flora of the Sydney Region Publication Author Carolin. R. & Tindale. M. Publisher Reed. Australia. Year 1993 ISBN 0730104001 Description Concise flora with little beyond an extensive key, species descriptions, very brief habitat description. ]. Grows in drier, disturbed areas, including the gravel banks of creeks, roadside verges, etc., and is abundant after fire[365[,