Rucki

Solanum curtilobum

Physical Characteristics

Solanum curtilobum is a PERENNIAL. It is frost tender. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs). Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

Distribution

S. America. Probably a hybrid involving a wild species and S. acaule[196].

Habitats

Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Root Edible Uses: Root - cooked[177]. A good source of starch but the root has a bitter taste. This bitterness can be removed by freeze-drying the tubers to make a food called 'chuño'[196].

Medicinal Uses

None known

Known Hazards

Although no specific mention of toxicity has been seen for this species, it belongs to a genus where many if not all the members have poisonous leaves and sometimes also the unripe fruits.