Kingdom Plantae Family Solanaceae Scientific name Solanum mammosum Rank Species | Order Solanales Genus Solanum Higher classification Solanum | |
Similar Solanum, Nightshade, Pouteria caimito, Solanum pseudocapsicum, Turkey berry | ||
Solanum mammosum is commonly known as nipplefruit, titty fruit, cow's udder, or, ambiguously, "Apple of Sodom". It is an annual or tender perennial plant in the Solanaceae family, part of the Solanum or nightshade genus, and a relative of the tomato and potato. This poisonous fruit is native to South America, but has been naturalized in the Greater Antilles, Central America and Caribbean.
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In Chinese culture it is known as five fingered eggplant(五指茄). In Japan it is known as Fox Face.
Uses
The plant is grown for ornamental purposes, in part because of the distal end of the fruit's resemblance to a human breast, while the proximal end looks like a cow's udder. It has been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of athlete's foot by hunters in Trinidad and for irritability and restlessness. It is sometimes also used as a detergent. It is imported to Taiwan and Hong Kong as decorative foliage for use in religious and festival floral arrangements. They are commonly used in building Chinese New Year trees due to their auspicious golden coloured fruit.
Synonyms
This plant is not easily confused, but several now-invalid scientific names have been given to it:
In addition, the name Solanum mammosum was also invalidly given to other nightshade species:
