This year a plant appeared that I can't get details on.Please see attached photos. After an exhaustive internet search, I am almost positive it is of the solanum family, but can't seem to pinpoint it so I can find it's specific characteristics. The local Panamanians here say it's Spanish name is hierba gallota, (vulture weed). I don't know why, cause the vultures don't eat it. They say a tea made from it's leaves can help with cough and phlegm. I searched for hierba de gallota and hierba gallota, with no results. solanum americanum and others are close, but this fruit is much larger, is not spherical and doesn't seem to change color (I am waiting for a color change - maybe it'll happen. The fruits are about 2" (5cm) long and 1" wide and about 3/4" thick and are sort of a tapered ellipsoid (looks like a big tooth) The flowers are sort of a greenish white and are about 3/8" /1 cm across. The spines on the backs of the leaves have a purple tint to them (noticeable in the sunlight) I don't know if the fruits turn another color - right now all of them, small and large are each striped with two shades of green. The surface of the fruit is very firm, and the inside is a thick paste, with a membrane across the narrowest dimension and after cutting it across the midsection, there many small seeds arranged in a circle within the two sections in each side of the membrane. Thank you in advance for any help on identifying this plant. Bob
Cymophandra betaceae, now called Solanum betaceum is a small tree, Daniel, and its fruits are more egg-shaped than the ones shown (I'm growing it in my garden, so it's easy to compare). That's called either Tamarillo or Tomate de árbol no matter where it's grown. I'd agree with it being in the Solanaceae, and personally I think that Solanum allophyllum is closest.... That's called Hierba gallinazo in Ecuador, which is also translated as Vulture Weed. EDIT to add: Tropicos seems to think so too - http://www.tropicos.org/Name/29603132 Their specimens seem to be from Colombia and Nicaragua, which would put Panamá directly in the range.
YES! The pictures from Stevens 31969 and Gonzalez 5533 etc., are exactly the shape and colors. It definitely looks to be the Solanum allophyllum Miers you referenced at http://www.tropicos.org/Name/29603132. Thank you so much for your time, that was good news. Bob
