About Solanum scabrum Mill.
Solanum scabrum Mill. is an annual or short-lived perennial herb that grows up to 1 meter tall, and can be hairless or sparsely hairy. Its leaves are typically ovate, 7–12 cm (2+3⁄4–4+3⁄4 in) long and 5–8 cm (2–3+1⁄4 in) wide, with petioles 1.5–7 cm (5⁄8–2+3⁄4 in) long. The inflorescence is simple or sometimes branched, holding 9–12 flowers. The corolla is white, stellate, 15–20 mm (5⁄8–3⁄4 in) in diameter; it may sometimes have a purple tinge and features a yellow or green basal star. The ripe berries are globular, 10–17 mm (3⁄8–11⁄16 in) in diameter, and purple-black. Its seeds are 1.8–2.2 mm (0.071–0.087 in) long, and are either pale or stained purple. Solanum scabrum is cultivated as an edible leaf crop in Africa. It is the most intensively cultivated species for leaf production within the Solanum nigrum complex, and has undergone genetic selection by farmers for larger leaves and other favorable characteristics. Njama njama, a traditional dish from Cameroonian cuisine, is prepared using the leaves of this species.
