Solanum melongena

Eggplant

Aubergine

Uses

Toxic parts

All green parts of the plant are poisonous^[12].

Whole plant

moderate toxicity

As with most members of this genus, the green parts of the plant are poisonous and should be avoided.

Edible uses

Fruit

Cooked as a Vegetable

Leaves

Material uses

There are no material uses listed for Solanum melongena.

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The aubergine is used mainly as a food crop, but it does also have various medicinal uses that make it a valuable addition to the diet.

It is bruised with vinegar and used as a poultice for cracked nipples, abscesses and haemorrhoids^[13]^[11]^[10].

The leaves are narcotic^[14]. A decoction is applied to discharging sores and internal haemorrhages^[11]. A soothing and emollient poultice for the treatment of burns, abscesses, cold sores and similar conditions can be made from the leaves^[10]. Aubergine leaves are toxic and should only be used externally^[10]. The ashes of the peduncle are used in the treatment of intestinal haemorrhages, piles and toothache^[11]. A decoction of the root is astringent^[13]^[11].

Fruit

Anticholesterolemic

Antidote, antihaemorrhoidal, hypotensive

Unknown part

Astringent

Narcotic

Poultice

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Shrub, Herbaceous, Soil surface or Climber

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed

Seed usually takes around 7-14 days to germinate^[15]. Successful germination requires a minimum temperature of 15°c^[16], and ideally between 24º and 32º^[15]. In tropical and subtropical climates, seed can be sown directly into the garden. In temperate climates the growing season can be extended by indoor sowing and transplanting into the garden after all danger of frost is passed. Seeds are typically started eight to 10 weeks prior to the anticipated frost-free date.^[17]

Cultivation

Requires a very warm, sheltered sunny position, though it succeeds in most soils^[1]. Requires plenty of moisture^[9], though the soil should be well-drained. Requires a pH in the range 5.5 to 6.8^[16]. The aubergine is often cultivated, especially in tropical areas, for its edible fruit, there are many named varieties^[6]^[16]. The plant is not frost-hardy, though it can be grown as an annual in temperate zones. It can, however, be difficult to ripen the fruit from outdoor grown plants in cooler temperate climates such as Britain. In this country they are more commonly grown in a warm or cool greenhouse or in a frame. A steady temperature of 25 - 30°c is required during the growing season for the best production of flowers and fruit^[16]. A short-lived perennial plant, it is usually cultivated as an annual^[18]^[16]. Plants should be restricted to no more than 4 fruits to make sure they reach a good size and ripen properly^[5]. Plants are rarely bothered by pests or diseases^[9]. Slugs, snails and caterpillars love this plant^[8]. Aubergines grow well with beans, tarragon and thyme^[8]. Aromatic plants such as lavender, tansy, marigolds or wormwood help to keep aphids at bay^[8]. Grows badly with potatoes, onions and garlic^[8]. The fruit can be up to 20cm long in cultivated plants^[16].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Solanum melongena. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Solanum melongena.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

References

? ^1.0^1.1^1.2 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (32202/01/01)
? ^2.0^2.1 Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (32202/01/01)
? ^3.0^3.1 Simons. New Vegetable Growers Handbook. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-050-0 (32202/01/01)
? ^4.0^4.1 Vilmorin. A. The Vegetable Garden. Ten Speed Press ISBN 0-89815-041-8 ()
? ^5.0^5.1^5.2 Organ. J. Rare Vegetables for Garden and Table. Faber (32202/01/01)
? ^6.0^6.1^6.2^6.3 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (32202/01/01)
? ^7.0^7.1^7.2^7.3^7.4 Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald ISBN 0-356-10541-5 (32202/01/01)
? ^8.0^8.1^8.2^8.3^8.4^8.5 Allardice.P. A - Z of Companion Planting. Cassell Publishers Ltd. ISBN 0-304-34324-2 (32202/01/01)
? ^9.0^9.1^9.2^9.3 Bianchini. F., Corbetta. F. and Pistoia. M. Fruits of the Earth. ()
? ^10.0^10.1^10.2^10.3^10.4 Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London ISBN 9-780751-303148 (32202/01/01)
? ^11.0^11.1^11.2^11.3^11.4^11.5 Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. ISBN 0-917256-20-4 (32202/01/01)
? Stary. F. Poisonous Plants. Hamlyn ISBN 0-600-35666-3 (32202/01/01)
? ^13.0^13.1^13.2 Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre ()
? ^14.0^14.1 Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. (32202/01/01)
? ^15.0^15.1 [Eggplant] The Official Seed Starting Homepage ()
? ^16.0^16.1^16.2^16.3^16.4^16.5^16.6^16.7 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (32202/01/01)
? [Eggplant] Wikipedia (2013/04/25)
? Brouk. B. Plants Consumed by Man. Academic Press ISBN 0-12-136450-x (32202/01/01)

"image:Solanum_melongena_Blanco2.265.png|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

[PFAFimport-1-1] ? ^1.0^1.1^1.2 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (32202/01/01)

[PFAFimport-2-2] ? ^2.0^2.1 Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (32202/01/01)

[PFAFimport-16-3] ? ^3.0^3.1 Simons. New Vegetable Growers Handbook. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-050-0 (32202/01/01)

[PFAFimport-27-4] ? ^4.0^4.1 Vilmorin. A. The Vegetable Garden. Ten Speed Press ISBN 0-89815-041-8 ()

[PFAFimport-33-5] ? ^5.0^5.1^5.2 Organ. J. Rare Vegetables for Garden and Table. Faber (32202/01/01)

[PFAFimport-183-6] ? ^6.0^6.1^6.2^6.3 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (32202/01/01)

[PFAFimport-7-7] ? ^7.0^7.1^7.2^7.3^7.4 Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald ISBN 0-356-10541-5 (32202/01/01)

[PFAFimport-201-8] ? ^8.0^8.1^8.2^8.3^8.4^8.5 Allardice.P. A - Z of Companion Planting. Cassell Publishers Ltd. ISBN 0-304-34324-2 (32202/01/01)

[PFAFimport-132-9] ? ^9.0^9.1^9.2^9.3 Bianchini. F., Corbetta. F. and Pistoia. M. Fruits of the Earth. ()

[PFAFimport-254-10] ? ^10.0^10.1^10.2^10.3^10.4 Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London ISBN 9-780751-303148 (32202/01/01)

[PFAFimport-218-11] ? ^11.0^11.1^11.2^11.3^11.4^11.5 Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. ISBN 0-917256-20-4 (32202/01/01)

[PFAFimport-19-12] ? Stary. F. Poisonous Plants. Hamlyn ISBN 0-600-35666-3 (32202/01/01)

[PFAFimport-178-13] ? ^13.0^13.1^13.2 Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre ()

[PFAFimport-240-14] ? ^14.0^14.1 Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. (32202/01/01)

[weekend-gardener-15] ? ^15.0^15.1 [Eggplant] The Official Seed Starting Homepage ()

[PFAFimport-200-16] ? ^16.0^16.1^16.2^16.3^16.4^16.5^16.6^16.7 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (32202/01/01)

[wiki-17] ? [Eggplant] Wikipedia (2013/04/25)

[PFAFimport-142-18] ? Brouk. B. Plants Consumed by Man. Academic Press ISBN 0-12-136450-x (32202/01/01)

[12]

[13]

[11]

[10]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[1]

[9]

[6]

[18]

[5]

[8]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[7]

Article is incomplete	False +
Article requires citations	False +
Article requires cleanup	False +
Belongs to family	Solanaceae +
Belongs to genus	Solanum +
Has binomial name	Solanum melongena +
Has common name	Eggplant + and Aubergine +
Has drought tolerance	Intolerant +
Has edible part	Fruit + and Leaves +
Has edible use	Vegetable + and Unknown use +
Has flowers of type	Hermaphrodite +
Has hardiness zone	9 +
Has image	Solanum melongena Blanco2.265.png +
Has lifecycle type	Perennial +
Has mature height	1 +
Has medicinal part	Fruit + and Unknown part +
Has medicinal use	Anticholesterolemic +, Antidote +, Antihaemorrhoidal +, Hypotensive +, Astringent +, Narcotic + and Poultice +
Has primary image	Solanum_melongena_Blanco2.265.png +
Has root zone	Shallow +
Has search name	solanum melongena +, eggplant + and aubergine +
Has seed requiring scarification	False +
Has seed requiring stratification	False +
Has shade tolerance	No shade +
Has soil ph preference	Acid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
Has soil texture preference	Sandy +, Loamy + and Clay +
Has soil water retention preference	Well drained +
Has sun preference	Full sun +
Has taxonomic rank	Species +
Has taxonomy name	Solanum melongena +
Has water requirements	moderate +
Inhabits ecosystem niche	Shrub +, Herbaceous +, Soil surface + and Climber +
Is grown from	Seed +
Is herbaceous or woody	Herbaceous +
Is taxonomy type	Species +
PFAF cultivation notes migrated	Yes +
PFAF edible use notes migrated	Yes +
PFAF material use notes migrated	Yes +
PFAF medicinal use notes migrated	Yes +
PFAF propagation notes migrated	Yes +
PFAF toxicity notes migrated	Yes +
Tolerates air pollution	False +
Tolerates maritime exposure	False +
Tolerates nutritionally poor soil	False +
Tolerates wind	False +
Has subobjectThis property is a special property in this wiki.	Solanum melongena +, Solanum melongena +, Solanum melongena +, Solanum melongena +, Solanum melongena +, Solanum melongena +, Solanum melongena + and Solanum melongena +

Uses

Toxic parts

Edible uses

Fruit

Cooked as a Vegetable

Leaves

Material uses

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

Fruit

Antidote, antihaemorrhoidal, hypotensive

Unknown part

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Forage

Shelter

Propagation

Seed

Cultivation

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

Polycultures & Guilds

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

Subspecies

Full Data

References

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