Family: Solanaceae
Common name: Turkey berry, Devil’s fig, Pea eggplant, Prickly solanum, Wild tomato, Platebrush, Cherry eggplant, Prickly nightshade, Sundakkai, Susumber, Bhurat, Bhankatiya, Anachunda, Chunde, Chittabadane, Kaadu sonde, Aubergine pois, Bushy white solanum, Jurubeba
Turkey Berry is a versatile shrub that grows in the wild in tropical regions, but they are also cultivated for their nutritional value, medicinal uses, and ease of cultivation. They’re native to Central and South America, but they’ve been introduced to many tropical countries in Asia, Africa, and Australia.
Plant Characteristics
Turkey berries are small woody shrubs that grow to a height of 2 to 3 m with a heavily branched stem that is woody at the base.
They have a fibrous and shallow root system with a main taproot and multiple lateral roots. The stem is green and tender when the plant is young, but it grows woody and slightly ridged with age.
The stem is covered with star-shaped hairs and short curved thorns. Thorns might be present on the stem and also on the midrib of the leaves, but some plants could be completely thornless.
Leaves of the Turkey Berry are bright green, roughly oval in shape, and lobed, very similar in size and shape to the Eggplant leaves. These leaves are 10-20 cm long, both surfaces covered with thin velvety hairs.
Turkey Berry flowers are white in color with five distinct petals, making them look star-shaped. They are 2 to 3 cm in diameter, with a central yellow spike that contains the stamens.
Flowers are produced in large clusters of 15 to 20, and look very pretty with their beautifully translucent, paper tissue-like petals. These flowers are short-lived and fall off in a day or two after which they produce small, berry-like fruits.
Once pollinated, the flowers produce small green fruits that look like green peas, turning orange and then yellow as they ripen. These fruits contain numerous flat round seeds that help in propagation.
Gardening tips
Turkey berries can easily be grown in home gardens since they require very little care and attention. They need bright direct or indirect sunlight, and cannot be grown in complete shade.
These plants can be grown in flower beds or pots in rich, well-drained soil. Since these are essentially wild plants, they’re capable of tolerating a range of soil conditions.
Watering is needed only when the plants are small and during peak summer. Turkey berries are harvested when they are ripe and yellow if they are to be eaten raw. But they are mostly harvested when they’re tender for dishes and pickles.
These plants live only for one to two years and hence they do not need pruning. Fertilize once a month during spring and summer when the plant produces flowers and fruits in abundance.
These plants are very resistant to pests, and generally do not need pesticide application. Turkey berries are used as a rootstock for grafting Eggplants since they’re resistant to many root-based diseases.
These plants are considered invasive weeds in many countries, since they self-propagate and cover large areas. Birds and small animals also help in propagating the plant by eating the ripe berries.
These plants are mostly grown for their medicinal and nutritional value, though they are not nearly as popular as Tomatoes and Eggplants that belong to the same family of Solanaceae.
Uses of Turkey Berry
Tender young berries are used in soups, stews, stir-fries, and even in making chili pastes. They are cooked as vegetables and also pickled. Young shoots and leaves are also eaten as vegetables. The fruit can be eaten raw after it ripens, but it has a distinct bitter flavor.
Leaves and fruits of the Turkey Berry are used in the treatment of many illnesses like fever, cough, asthma, chest, congestion, stomach ache, eye, infection, diabetes, cut wounds, skin diseases, colds, headaches, ant bites, malaria, tooth pain, and many common ailments.
Propagation
Propagation is through seeds, stem cuttings, and grafting.
Ripe fruits wrinkle, and then turn brown, after which they can be collected and dried to obtain seeds. The seeds have a very high germination rate when sown in most soil.
Semi-hardwood cuttings that are 15-20 cm long taken from healthy plants can produce roots in 3 to 4 weeks. Grafting helps to retain the best qualities of the parent plant and is a very good method of propagation.
Photographed at: Kings Flora Organic Farm Resort, Wayanad
