Solanum sisymbriifolium - Litschi tomato

Solanum sisymbriifolium, also known as a lychi tomato, is a herbaceous plant from the family of the Solanaceae. This family comprises a large number of economically and ecologically significant plants, including tomatoes, potatoes and eggplants. Originally from South America, Solanum has now spread Sisymbriifolium in many other parts of the world, where it can appear both as an ornamental and useful plant as well as weeds.

Distribution and habitat

Solanum sisymbriifolium originally comes from the temperate and subtropical regions of South America, especially from countries such as Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. From there it was spread through people to Europe, Africa, Asia and North America. Today it is naturalized in many of these areas and often grows on the side of the road, in abandoned fields and other disturbed landscapes. Their adaptability to different floors and climatic conditions contributes to their rapid spread.

Morphological characteristics

The plant can reach a height of 1 to 1.5 meters and has a bushy growth. The leaves are deeply cut and are reminiscent of the leaves of the Rucola plant (Eruca Sativa), which also led to their Latin species name "sisymbriifolium", since "sisymbrium" is the scientific name for different plants of the family of the Kreuzblütler, the leaves of which shaped similarly are.

The entire plant is covered with dense, fine spines, which can be found on the stems as well as on the underside of the leaf and the soda leaves of the flowers. These thorns serve as a protective mechanism against herbivores. The flowers are relatively large and white up to pale blue with yellow stamens. It typically blooms from summer to autumn.

The fruits of Solanum sisymbriifolium are small, cherry -sized berries that are initially green and take on a red to orange color when mature. They are surrounded by a spiky, paper -like chalice that opens in ripe to clear the fruit. The berries resemble small tomatoes on the outside, but are poisonous when raw.

Ecology and spread

Solanum sisymbriifolium is a pioneer plant that quickly germinates and grows on disturbed soils. It is particularly resistant to dryness and can thrive well under suboptimal conditions. Due to its spines, the plant is relatively resistant to pasture animals and other herbivores. This property gives it an ecological advantage in many regions and enables it to grow in areas where other plants cannot survive due to grazing or difficult conditions.

The fruits of the plant are an important means of spreading. They are eaten by birds, which then spread the seeds with their feces. This behavior means that the plant can quickly colonize new areas. In addition, the plant from seeds can quickly grow back after a fire or other form of the disorder of the ecosystem.

Use and hazard

Despite the fact that the raw fruits are poisonous, they are eaten in some South American countries after appropriate preparation. The tires are sweet and can be cooked or processed into jam. In traditional medicine, Solanum sisymbriifolium is occasionally used to treat inflammation and other complaints, but there is little scientific evidence that support these applications.

In agriculture, the plant is also used as a so -called "trap plant" to protect the soil from nematodes that affect crops such as potatoes. The roots of Solanum sisymbriifolium excrete substances that attract and kill certain harmful nematodes, which makes it a valuable plant in biological crop protection.

Invasive properties and control

In some regions outside of their natural distribution area, Solanum sisymbriifolium is considered an invasive type. It can quickly cover large areas and displace other plants. Their spread by seeds, which are easily distributed by animals, as well as their resistance to unfavorable environmental conditions, make them a difficult to control plant. In agricultural systems, they can make weed management practices difficult because their dense spines make mechanical control methods difficult.

In some regions, herbicides are used to control the plant, whereby mechanical methods can be problematic due to the spines. In agricultural areas in which the plant is used to control pests, however, its spread is often specifically promoted.