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The Bush Tomato, also known as the Desert raisin and Akudjurra (Solanum centrale) is a bush tucker that has gained popularity in western cuisine. The fruit of the bush tomato are round, approximately 10-20 mm in diameter and turn from green to yellow when ripe.

Fruit ripening on the bush dry to resemble a raisin.

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 centrale, the unripe fruit contains the toxin solanine (the same as that found in green potatoes) and must be fully ripened before consumption.

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.

Visit our Flora Index for more information on the genus Solanum and the Bush Tomato (Solanum centrale).


  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Plantae
  • Clade: Tracheophytes
  • Clade: Angiosperms
  • Clade: Eudicots
  • Clade: Asterids
  • Order: Solanales
  • Family: Solanaceae
  • Genus: Solanum
  • Species: S. centrale
  • Binomial name: Solanum centrale