Daily Botanical: Naranjilla (Solanum quitoense)

I was afraid to taste it since the plant was a little worse for wear and the fruit quite old, but was told that naranjilla, a member of the nightshade family, is reminiscent of tomatoes.
The plant is covered in thorns and prickly hairs and looked like a cross between an eggplant and a rose. The fruit itself has a tough, eggplant-like skin but is also covered in a layer of fuzz that reminded me of the fine prickly hairs on rose hips.
In Dominica the fruit is commonly called “Witches’ Tomato.”



December 31st, 2009 at 1:55 pm
Wonderful picture!! Happy New Year.
December 31st, 2009 at 11:17 pm
What did it taste like?
January 1st, 2010 at 2:00 pm
Awesome funky little plant
January 3rd, 2010 at 11:15 am
this is a strange little plant what uses does it have? what did it taste like?