Biology:Solanum incanum

Solanum incanum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Solanales
Family:	Solanaceae
Genus:	Solanum
Subgenus:	Solanum subg. Leptostemonum
Section:	Solanum sect. Melongena
Species:	S. incanum
Binomial name
	Solanum incanum; L.
Synonyms
	Solanum coagulans var. griseum Dunal ; Bitter Dunal ; Bitter Solanum incanum var. pluribaccatum; Solanum incanum var. brevitomentosum Bitter ; Solanum hierochuntinum Bitter ; Bitter Solanum incanum var. unguiculatum; Solanum incanum subsp. horridescens (A.Rich.) Abedin, Al-Yahya, Chaudhary & J.S.Mossa ; Solanum floccosistellatum Dunal ; Bitter L., nom. superfl. ; Solanum undulatum Solanum incanum var. integrascens; Poir. Solanum unguiculatum; Solanum hierochuntinum var. lanuginosum Bitter ; A.Rich. Solanum sanctum; Solanum incanum subsp. schoanum Solanum incanum var. kavirondoense;

Short description: Species of flowering plant

Solanum incanum is a species of nightshade, a flowering plant in the family Solanaceae. It is native to Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East, eastwards to India. The species was introduced to Taiwan and Vietnam.^[3]

Common names include thorn apple, bitter apple,^[1] bitterball ^[4] and bitter tomato ^[5]^[6] It may be confused with the similar S. linnaeanum where their ranges overlap in Africa. In ancient India, Solanum incanum was domesticated into the eggplant, Solanum melongena.^[7]^[8]^[9] In biblical literature, it is sometimes used as a "hedge of thorns" (Hebrew: מְשֻׂכַת חָדֶק‎).^[10]