Solanum capsicoides All.

Latteung (Solanum capsicoides) is an erect annual shrub 30-200 cm tall of the Solanaceae family, native to the coast of Brazil and now distributed as a cultivated plant and weed throughout tropical regions. Its round, brightly colored fruit is often used as a decorative ornament. Traditionally, latteung is also believed to relieve cough, rheumatic pain, and toothache.

This plant lives in warm, humid climate regions, growing well in sandy soil in coastal areas or grasslands, and can also grow on rocky slopes, flat land, and disturbed terrestrial sites. 

• Roots taproot and branching.
• Stem green-purple to brown, thorny and branched, 1 cm long.
• Leaves with irregular deep lobes. 15 cm long with long curved thorns on both leaf surfaces, stem and leaves covered with small star-shaped hairs.
• Flowers 2 cm in size, purple or white with a yellow center, 5 sepals joined forming a star.
• Fruit round, tomato-like, initially pale green striped, turning orange-red when ripe.
• Seeds light brown, round, 3 mm in size. 20-35 mm, white flesh. 

Propagated by seed; germination is best done in spring and late summer. 

Alkaloids, solasonine, solamargine and solanine, the withanolide steroid cilistol, capsisteroids A-F. 

Suppresses cough; relieves pain; treats rheumatism, toothache; heals nasal wounds.
 

Not available

Lanteung (Tapanuli, North Sumatra).