Turkey Berries also known as Cherry Eggplant, Devil’s Fig, Green-Fruited Pea Eggplant, Gully Bean, Pea Aubergine, Pea Eggplant, Plate Brush and many other names can be found in India, Africa, China, Thailand, The Caribbean, South America, Indonesia, Florida, Alabama, Brazil, Mexico, Ghana, Jamaica, Papua New Guinea, Puerto Rico and other places in US and the world. In Jamaica this berry is called susumba. It grows wonderfully in full sunlight and light shade. It cannot survive under closed forest areas. This plant is seen on vacant lands, roadsides, pastures, river banks, and other such areas. Flowering and fruiting starts after the plant reaches a height of 1.5 m. Turkey berry reaches a height of 1.5 m during the year and dies after 2 years.
| Name | Turkey berry |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Solanum torvum |
| Native | Central and South America |
| Common/English Name | Cherry Eggplant, Devil’s Fig, Green-Fruited Pea Eggplant, Gully Bean, Pea Aubergine, Pea Eggplant, Plate Brush, Susumba, Susumber, Thai Pea Eggplant, Thai Cultivated Nightshade, Thornapple, Turkey Berry, Water Nightshade, Wild Eggplant. |
| Name in Other Languages | Fijian : Kaisurisuri Papua New Guinea : Podopodo Kai Ra T Aba Rau Bangladesh : Gotha Begun Vietnam : Cà Dai Hoa Trang Brazil : Jurubeba ( Portuguese ) Philippines : Taogotan Tongan : Tisaipale Burmese : Hkawhkam-Kaju Portuguese : Bellangère Bâtarde Japanese : Suzume Nasubi Danish : Ærtenatskygge French : Aubergine Sauvage Épineuse Laotian : Kh’èèngz Faaz Puerto Rico : Berenjena Cimarrona German : Teufels-Nachtschatten Saint Lucia : Béléjenn Djab Yapese : Rawelnagafi Guatemala : Güis Indonesia : Pokak Thailand : Makhua-Phuang China : Dian Qie Zi Italian : Morella Della Giamaica Vanuatu : Piko Khmer : Trɑp Put Lumɲɔɔŋ Nepali : Tokrakur Spanish : Berenjena De Gallina Pakistan : Khana Pakana Cameroon : Top Na Aka ( Batoufam ) Samoan : Lapiti India : Bhi Tita |
| Plant Growth Habit | Erect, branched, slender perennial shrub |
| Growing Climate | Grows best in full sunlight and does well in light shade or shade for part of the day, but cannot survive under a closed forest canopy |
| Soil | Quite drought tolerant and is adaptable on a wide range of soils |
| Plant Size | 2–3 m tall and 2 cm in diameter |
| Root | Deep and strong, woody taproot with numerous woody laterals. |
| Stem | Densely tomentose with stout, recurved, reddish or paleyellow prickles |
| Leaf | Simple, alternate, solitary or in pairs; petiole 2–4 cm; leaf blade ovate to elliptic, 6–19 by × 4–13 cm, densely tomentose, armed or unarmed, with an acute tip and rounded to oblique base, margin sinuate or usually 5-7- lobed and covered with hairs. |
| Flower | Andromonoecious, pentamerous, pedicel, slender, 5–12 mm densely tomentose, white, rotate, 2.5 cm across, short tube with 5 short ovate-lanceolate lobes, 8–10 mm |
| Fruit Shape & Size | Many seeded, smooth, glabrous, globose berry 1–1.5 cm in diameter and borne on 1–2 cm, pedicel thickened upwards. |
| Fruit Color | Green when young to yellowish-green when mature |
| Flavor/Aroma | Spicy |
| Taste | Bitter |
| Seed | Numerous flat, round, Discoid, brown, 1.5–2 mm in diameter |
| Health Benefits |
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