Solanum trilobatum (PROSEA)

Plant Resources of South-East Asia Introduction

List of species

Solanum trilobatum L.

Protologue: Sp. pl. 1: 188 (1753).

• Solanum acetosaefolium Lamk (1794),
• Solanum canaranum Miq. ex C.B. Clarke (1883).

• Thailand: khwaeng khia (Tak), ma waeng khruea (central)
• Vietnam: càba thùy.

India, Vietnam, Thailand and Peninsular Malaysia.

In India, the bitter roots and young shoots have been given in the form of an electuary, a decoction or a powder for consumption. The medicine is mainly used for asthma, chronic febrile affections and difficult parturition. The fruit is edible, and the leaves are eaten cooked as a vegetable.

• A nearly glabrous, thorny herb, slightly woody at base.
• Leaves broadly elliptical to broadly ovate, 4-7.5 cm × 2.5-4 cm, sinuate-lobed, base rounded to slightly cordate, apex rounded.
• Inflorescence extra-axillary, composed of a few-flowered cyme or a 6-10-flowered raceme.
• Calyx campanulate, 2-3 mm long, glabrous, not enlarged in fruit, corolla stellate, 2.5-3.5 cm in diameter, blue, anthers 5, 7-8 mm long.
• Fruit about 1 cm in diameter, purple to blackish.
• Seeds about 3 mm in diameter.

S. trilobatum is found as a weed in gardens and on waste ground. In India it is reported to grow in tidal swamps.

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• Solanum (Medicinal plants)

• M.M. Blomqvist & Nguyen Tien Ban