Solanum pseudoquina
| Quina de cuyaba (Solanum pseudoquina) | |
|---|---|
| Scientific name | Solanum pseudoquina [1] |
| Common names | Quina de cuyaba |
| Genus | Solanum |
| Family | Solanaceae |
| Order | Solanales |
| Growth form | Semideciduous shrub or small tree, about 2–10 m |
| Native setting | Forest, secondary growth, pasture, and roadsides in eastern and southern South America [2] |
| Fruit | Yellowish-brown globose fruit, about 15 mm across [3] |
Solanum pseudoquina is a semideciduous shrub or small tree known as quina de cuyaba. Current taxonomic references accept the name and place the species in Solanaceae. Its recorded range extends from eastern and southern Brazil into Argentina, with horticultural accounts also describing it from Paraguay. [2]
Description[edit | edit source]
The plant is described as about 2–10 m tall, with a semideciduous habit and occurrence in semideciduous forest, secondary growth, pasture, and roadsides. The horticultural account describes aromatic flowers and yellowish-brown, globose fruit about 15 mm across, with sweetish succulent pulp. These are descriptive records rather than a general recommendation to eat the fruit. [3]
Cultivation[edit | edit source]
Soil and water[edit | edit source]
Use fertile, well-drained soil; clay-rich ground is included in the reported habitat and cultivation description. Keep the root zone moist while a plant establishes, but do not substitute stagnant wetness for drainage. Established plants are described as drought-tolerant, so irrigation can be reduced only after a substantial root system is in place and the plant is growing reliably. The guidance is qualified rather than a measured irrigation schedule. [4]
Sun and humidity[edit | edit source]
Cultivation guidance recommends sunny exposure. Give the crown strong light and use a site where the fertile soil remains free-draining. Its occurrence in semideciduous forest and disturbed open habitats indicates tolerance of more than one light setting, but no fixed shade requirement or humidity threshold is established for the species. [3]
Seasonal changes[edit | edit source]
Semideciduous growth means that some leaf loss can accompany a drier or cooler part of the year. The native range spans eastern and southern Brazil and reaches Argentina, so the timing of leaf change will vary with local climate. Maintain moisture through active growth and fruit development, while avoiding a fixed calendar schedule that is not documented for this species. [2] [3]
Propagation[edit | edit source]
Fresh seed is described as being sown in a sunny nursery bed and sprouting in about 4–8 days. A 4–8 day interval is a qualified estimate rather than a guarantee; use fresh seed and keep the sowing conditions consistent. [3]
Flowering, fruiting, and harvest[edit | edit source]
The species is described as having aromatic flowers and bee pollination, but no reliable flowering calendar, bearing-age range, or harvest index is established. Fruit is described as globose and about 15 mm across, with yellowish-brown color and sweetish succulent pulp. Do not use color or pulp description alone as a food-safety decision. [3]
Fruit and uses[edit | edit source]
A horticultural account lists the fruit as used fresh, but a safe human serving and a reliable distinction between safe and unsafe plant parts are not established. Two species-specific chemistry studies report steroidal glycoalkaloids or glycoalkaloid-related analytical findings; the studies do not establish a human dietary threshold. [5] [6]
A 2024 veterinary study documented spontaneous cattle poisoning associated with green-leaf ingestion and experimentally administered green leaves to four cattle. Reported signs included apathy, muscle tremors, ataxia, motor incoordination, and difficulty rising; one animal given a 40 g/kg dose died, and repeated dosing produced cardiac alterations. The study concerns cattle consuming green leaves under the described conditions, not human fruit consumption, so it should not be converted into a human dose or a blanket fruit-toxicity claim. [7]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ [5] Soares et al., “Extending compound identification for molecular network using the LipidXplorer database independent method: a proof of concept using glycoalkaloids from Solanum pseudoquina A. St.-Hil.”, 2018.