Solanum verbascifolium auct. non L.

An unarmed shrub or small tree up to 4(-10) m tall with a dense indumentum of soft stellate hairs, stem up to 20 cm in diameter. Leaves simple, ovate-elliptical, (7-)10-20(-29) cm x 3.5-15 cm, margin entire or slightly wavy, base rounded to cuneate, apex acute to acuminate. Inflorescence appearing terminal, a compound cyme; calyx campanulate, 5 mm long, lobes ovate, corolla stellate, about 1.5 cm in diameter, white, anthers oblong, about 2 mm long, opening with apical pores, ovary densely pubescent, style 4-6 mm long, glabrous. Fruit globose, 8-12 mm in diameter, pubescent, dull yellow when ripe. Seeds many, compressed, 1-2 mm in diameter. Adding to the taxonomic confusion is the fact that S. erianthum has been extensively referred to as S. verbascifolium L., which actually proved to be identical with a South American species.

S. erianthum is fairly common, occurring scattered in sunny or slightly shaded places, in brushwood, roadsides, field edges, on waste ground and in forest edges.

In vitro production of active compounds: Diosgenin and solasodine have been isolated from 6-month-old callus of S. erianthum; the undifferentiated callus tissue was established from sterilized seeds on Murashige and Skoog's revised medium. Blue light stimulated solasodine synthesis and green light stimulated diosgenin synthesis in the callus. Optimal growth was reached after 6 weeks when the dry weight of the tissue had increased 6.6-fold. After 6 weeks only about 147 microgram diosgenin and 47 microgram solasodine had been produced per g of dry-weight tissue; this is very little.

Shade or shelter: S. erianthum is considered suitable as a shade plant for coffee.

Medicine: The leaves act as an abortifacient and are considered a potent medicine for expelling all impurities through the urine, and in particular to treat leucorrhoea. Pounded leaves are poulticed to treat piles, haemorrhoids and scrofula. Heated leaves are applied as a cream to the forehead against headache. A decoction of the leaves is drunk against vertigo; an infusion of the plant is used for a bath after childbirth. A decoction from the roots is applied to treat violent pains all over the body or to relieve digestive troubles; it is also given to treat dysentery, diarrhoea and fever. In Papua New Guinea, the plant is used internally to treat stomach-ache and is applied externally to skin irritations and rashes. In the Solomon Islands, leaf juice is used as a rinse for sores in the mouth. S. erianthum is considered poisonous to livestock. The root bark is poisonous and can be used as an antiphlogistic and against arthritis. Food: The fruits can be eaten when cooked. Other products: In the Philippines, the velvety leaves are used to remove grease from dishes.