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Solanum
Very pale green thin leaves. Fruit appears to be multi colours. Low bush. Not sure of the actual variety. The plant growth is encouraged by fire and disturbance. The fruit of a number of species have been used for food by Aboriginal people in the drier areas of Australia. They have a very strong flavour and scent when ripe and fresh. A number of Solanum species contain significant levels of solanine and as such are highly poisonous.
Botanical walk near Broken Hill.
Spotted on Jul 24, 2012
Submitted on May 24, 2013
3 Comments
Alice, I think there are some varieties which are lower in solanum, those are the ones they eat. Obviously you would hope to be with someone who could tell the difference before trying them! Leuba, we also were chuffed to see them on the plant. Yes we have only had them dried as well.
Great to see these on a plant and on PN. I only some dried ones somewhere in the pantry ! thanks Kerry.
They do have a slight "back-of-throat" tingle like some other edible Solanum.
How could they consume these if they are highly poisonous? Can you cook out the poison?