Alice Springs Desert Park
Alice Springs Desert ParkFauna Flora Nature Theatre Nocturnal House
Known as the Desert Raisin (Solanum centrale) is a traditional bush tucker that has become popular in western cuisine.
A member of the genus Solanum, care must be taken when trying to identify the species in the wild, as they can be easily mistaken by the novice for other species that are poisonous. Even within the same species of bush tomato (Solanum), there can be variation to the same species, such as in the leaves (see the caution below).
Common name
Solanum centrale are known by the following common names, Desert Raisin and Bush Tomato. Extreme care need to be taken, when trying to identify the individual species.
| CAUTION If you are not an expert at identifying the plant, ‘DO NOT’ eat the fruit, as some Solanum species that look similar, are toxic. In the Solanum species, the unripe fruit contains the toxin solanine (the same as that found in green potatoes). Only a select few species of Solanum produce edible fruit when fully ripen. Others remain toxic. There are many other Solanum species that resemble Solanum centrale, and only some of them produce edible fruit eg Solanum chippendalei and Solanum ellipticum. Some closely related species produce fruit that are toxic. S. sturtianum is poisonous and can usually be recognised by the yellow or black dry brittle fruits. |
More information on the Bush Tomato genus Solanum and Solanum centrale
- Scientific classification
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Clade: Tracheophytes
- Clade: Angiosperms
- Clade: Eudicots
- Clade: Asterids
- Order: Solanales
- Family: Solanaceae
- Genus: Solanum
- Species: Solanum centrale
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Alice Springs Desert ParkFauna Flora Nature Theatre Nocturnal House