Collection and Botanical Studies of Solanum L. in Northern Thailand

Abstract

The exploration and collecion of Solanum spp. were carried out at the natural resources and cultivated area in 9 provinces of northem Thailand namely Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Payao. Tak, Prae, Nan, Lampun and Lampang during 1996 to 2001. Some botanical characters were studied and compared with the specimens from the Bangkok Herbarium, Department of agriculture and Forestry. The result showed that 15 species were identified as follows Solanum aculeatissimum Jacq., S. americanum Mill., S. denticulatum Blume, S. erianthum D.Don, Solanum ferrox L. var. ferrox cv. group Sinkade, S. melongena L., S. muricatum Ait., S. praetermissum Kerr, S. sanitwongsei Craib and S. spirale Roxb., S. torvum Sw., S. trilobatum L., S. tuberosum L., S. violaceum Ortega and S. spirale Roxb., S. torvum Sw., S. trilobatum L., S. tu8berosum L., S. violaceum Ortega and S. wrightii Benth. A number of 12 useful species are namely S. erianthum D.Don used as a material for drying fermented soybean food, Solanum ferrox L. var. ferrox cv. group Sinkade, S. melongena L., S. praetermissum Kerr, S. sanitwongsei Craib, S. spirale Roxb., s. torvum Sw., S. trilobatum L. and s. violaceum Ortega, used as cooking or fresh vegetables from their young or mature leaves and fruits except S. tuberosum L. used as cooking from tuberous root. S. muricatum Ait. fresh and mature of fruits are edible as well as s. wrightii Benth. Other, two species namely Solanum aculeatissimum Jacq. and S. americanum Mill. are not used because of beigh a noxious weed.