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Solanum pimpinellifolium
  • Currant Tomato

an annual member of the Solanum genus in the family Solanaceae.

Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • no shade
    No shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid, neutral, alkaline
    Acid to Alkaline
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 9
    Zone 9
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Solanum pimpinellifolium has 2 edible uses listed
Solanum pimpinellifolium has 2 material uses listed
Solanum pimpinellifolium has 4 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Toxic parts

All green parts of the plant are poisonous[1][2].

Stems

moderate toxicity

Leaves

moderate toxicity

Edible uses

Notes

Fruit - raw, cooked or dried for later use[3][4][5]. Sweet and delicious, it makes an excellent dessert fruit and is also used in savoury dishes as a vegetable[K]. The fruit is rather small and fiddly, about 10 - 15mm in diameter, but it is produced in quite large bunches and is well worth the effort of picking[K]. An edible oil is obtained from the seed[6][7]. The seed is small and it would be very fiddly to utilize. It is only viable to use the seed as a source of oil if large quantities of the plants are being grown for their fruits and the seed is not wanted.

Fruit

Unknown use

Unknown part

Oil

Material uses

The strong aroma of this plant is said to repel insects from nearby plants[8][9][10]. A semi-drying oil is obtained from the seed. Used in making soap[6][7][11]. See the notes above regarding utilization.

Unknown part

Oil
Repellent

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The pulped fruit is an extremely beneficial skin-wash for people with oily skin. Sliced fruits are a quick and easy first aid treatment for burns, scalds and sunburn[12].

A decoction of the root is ingested in the treatment of toothache[13]. The skin of tomato fruits is a good source of lycopine, a substance that has been shown to protect people from heart attacks. It seems to be more effective when it is cooked and so can be obtained from food products such as tomato ketchup and tinned tomatoes[14].

A homeopathic remedy is made from the plant[8]. It is used in the treatment of rheumatism and severe headaches[8].

Unknown part

Cardiac
Homeopathy
Odontalgic
Skin

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - sow early spring in a warm greenhouse. Germination is usually quick and good. Pot up the seedlings into individual pots of fairly rich compost as soon as the first true leaf appears and plant them out after the last expected frosts.

Seed can also be sown in situ under a cloche at the end of April, though in a cool summer the results may be disappointing.

The seedcoat may carry tomato mosaic virus. However, by sowing the seed 15mm deep the seedcoat will remain below the soil surface when the seed germinates and the disease will be inactivated[15].

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Solanum pimpinellifolium. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Requires a rich well-drained soil in a sunny position.

Plants are not frost-hardy. They can be grown outdoors in Britain as a spring-sown annual started off under glass in the spring. In cool wet summers the total yields are likely to be low[K].

A form of tomato with a small but delicious tasting fruit, it is often treated as a separate species[16]. There are some named varieties[5].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Solanum pimpinellifolium. 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 pimpinellifolium.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Solanum pimpinellifolium
Genus
Solanum
Family
Solanaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[3][4][5][6][7]
Medicinal uses
[12][13][14][8]
Material uses & Functions
[8][9][10][6][7][11]
Botanic
[17]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
  • Fruit (Unknown use)
  • Unknown part (Oil)
Material uses
  • Unknown part (Oil)
  • Unknown part (Repellent)
Medicinal uses
  • Unknown part (Cardiac)
  • Unknown part (Homeopathy)
  • Unknown part (Odontalgic)
  • Unknown part (Skin)
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
9
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
no shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
well drained
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    None listed.
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    ?
    Herbaceous or Woody
    ?
    Life Cycle
    annual
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    1 x 0.5
    Fertility
    self fertile
    Pollinators
    ?
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite











    References

    1. ? Stary. F. Poisonous Plants. Hamlyn ISBN 0-600-35666-3 (32202/01/01)
    2. ? Cooper. M. and Johnson. A. Poisonous Plants in Britain and their Effects on Animals and Man. HMSO ISBN 0112425291 (32202/01/01)
    3. ? 3.03.1 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (32202/01/01)
    4. ? 4.04.1 Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing (32202/01/01)
    5. ? 5.05.15.2 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (32202/01/01)
    6. ? 6.06.16.26.3 Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (32202/01/01)
    7. ? 7.07.17.27.3 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (32202/01/01)
    8. ? 8.08.18.28.38.4 Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald ISBN 0-356-10541-5 (32202/01/01)
    9. ? 9.09.1 Philbrick H. and Gregg R. B. Companion Plants. Watkins (32202/01/01)
    10. ? 10.010.1 Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. ISBN 0-88266-064-0 (32202/01/01)
    11. ? 11.011.1 Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press (32202/01/01)
    12. ? 12.012.1 Allardice.P. A - Z of Companion Planting. Cassell Publishers Ltd. ISBN 0-304-34324-2 (32202/01/01)
    13. ? 13.013.1 Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. ISBN 0-917256-20-4 (32202/01/01)
    14. ? 14.014.1 Radio 4 AM - (32202/01/01)
    15. ? RHS. The Garden. Volume 113. Royal Horticultural Society (32202/01/01)
    16. ? Chakravarty. H. L. The Plant Wealth of Iraq. ()
    17. ? Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (32202/01/01)




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