naranjilla

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Quito-orange

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Solanum quitense
• Solanum angulatum
• Solanum nollanum
• Solanum quitoense f. septentrionale
• Solanum quitoense var. septentrionale

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Solanales and the family Solanaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Solanum, specifically as the species Solanum quitoense.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution spanning several distinct tropical regions. Within the Malesia zone, it can be found specifically on the island of Jawa. Its presence extends into Central America, where it is documented in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Panamá. Additionally, the species reaches the Caribbean region, specifically inhabiting Cuba. Together, these locations highlight the widespread nature of its natural habitat.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Solanum quitoense is defined by a broad altitudinal distribution that spans a diverse range of environmental gradients. This species is highly adaptable, occupying habitats starting from sea level (0 m AMSL) and ascending to a maximum elevation of 2600 m AMSL. The ecological preference of the plant is centered around a mean elevation of 1375 m AMSL, suggesting that it thrives most consistently within mid-altitude tropical or subtropical zones. This wide vertical range indicates that the plant can tolerate varying levels of atmospheric pressure, temperature fluctuations, and moisture availability characteristic of different montane and lowland ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

2600 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1375 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Solanum quitoense is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its life cycle in a single year. This long-term survival strategy is complemented by its deciduous nature, meaning the plant undergoes periodic shedding of its foliage, typically in response to seasonal environmental shifts or changes in moisture availability. As a perennial deciduous species, it maintains a robust root system or vegetative base that enables regrowth following periods of dormancy, ensuring its continued presence within its ecological niche.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Solanum quitoense is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically classified as a shrub. This plant typically reaches a mean height of 2.5 m, though it can grow up to a maximum height of 3 m. It is a terrestrial species, functioning as an independent organism rather than a parasite or an epiphyte. In terms of its structural habit, the plant is self-supporting, exhibiting neither obligatory nor facultative climbing tendencies such as vines or lianas.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

3 m

Plant height mean:

2.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Solanum quitense is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, utilizing the standard Calvin cycle to fix carbon dioxide during the light-independent reactions. As a member of the Solanaceae family, its metabolic processes are optimized for typical temperate to subtropical environmental conditions where photorespiration is managed through standard C3 enzymatic activities. Furthermore, this species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with diazotrophic bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms, and instead relies on the uptake of nitrogenous compounds, such as nitrates and ammonium, directly from the soil matrix through its root system.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Solanum quitoense is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily driven by insect vectors. This reliance on insect-mediated pollination ensures the transfer of pollen between flowers, although the species is also capable of self-fertilization, providing a reproductive safeguard. The resulting seeds are quite small, with a mean mass of 0.001375 g. Individual seed weights fluctuate within a narrow range, with a minimum recorded mass of 0.00123 g and a maximum of 0.00152 g.

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

0.00152 g

Seed mass mean:

0.001375 g

Seed mass min:

0.00123 g

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Solanum quitoense has 2 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, fruit.

Leaf

1. Avicenna journal of phytomedicine
2. Journal of medicinal food
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Fruit

1. Avicenna journal of phytomedicine

Chemicals

Solanum quitoense has 10 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 11,14-EICOSADIENOIC ACID METHYL ESTER, CATECHIN, Decanoic acid methyl ester, Hexadecanoic acid, N,N-diisopropyl(2,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropyl)amine.

11,14-EICOSADIENOIC ACID METHYL ESTER

1. Toxicology reports

CATECHIN

1. Toxicology reports

Decanoic acid methyl ester

1. Toxicology reports

Hexadecanoic acid

1. Biomedical materials (Bristol, England)

N,N-diisopropyl(2,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropyl)amine

1. Biomedical materials (Bristol, England)

Octadecanoic acid

1. Biomedical materials (Bristol, England)

SYRINGIC ACID

1. Toxicology reports

azelaic acid

1. Toxicology reports

caffeic acid

1. Toxicology reports

luteolin

1. Toxicology reports

Activities

Solanum quitoense has 1 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant.

Antioxidant

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Conditions

Solanum quitoense has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include infection.

Infection

1. Virusdisease

Preparations

Solanum quitoense has 2 reported preparations identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Tea, ethanolic extracts.

Tea

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Ethanolic extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology