Editing Solanum (section)

== Uses ==
Many species in the genus bear some edible parts, such as [[fruit]]s, [[leaf|leaves]], or [[tuber]]s. Three crops in particular have been bred and harvested for consumption by humans for centuries, and are now cultivated on a global scale:
* [[Tomato]], ''S. lycopersicum''
** Tomato varieties are sometimes bred from both ''S. lycopersicum'' and wild tomato species such as ''S. pimpinellifolium'', ''S. peruvianum'', ''S. cheesmanii'', ''S. galapagense'', ''S. chilense'', etc. (such varieties include—among others—Bicentennial, Dwarf Italian, Epoch, Golden Sphere, Hawaii, Ida Red, Indigo Rose,<ref>{{cite web|url= http://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/purple-tomato-debuts-indigo-rose |title=Purple tomato debuts as 'Indigo Rose' | work = Extension Service |publisher= Oregon state university |date= 2012-01-27|access-date=2018-06-25}}</ref> Kauai, Lanai, Marion, Maui, Molokai, Niihau, Oahu, Owyhee, Parma, Payette, Red Lode, Super Star, Surecrop, Tuckers Forcing, V 121, Vantage, Vetomold, and Waltham.)<ref>{{cite web|url= http://cuke.hort.ncsu.edu/cucurbit/wehner/vegcult/ |title= Vegetable Cultivar Descriptions for North America &#124; Cucurbit Breeding |publisher= NCSU |access-date=2018-06-25}}</ref>
* [[Potato]], ''S. tuberosum'', fourth largest food crop.
** Less important but cultured relatives used in small amounts include ''S. stenotomum, S. phureja, S. goniocalyx, S. ajanhuiri, S. chaucha, S. juzepczukii, S. curtilobum''.
* [[Eggplant]] (also known as brinjal or aubergine), ''S. melongena''

Other species are significant food crops regionally, such as Ethiopian eggplant or [[scarlet eggplant]] (''[[Solanum aethiopicum|S. aethiopicum]]''), naranjilla or lulo (''[[Solanum quitoense|S. quitoense]]''), cocona (''[[Solanum sessiliflorum|S. sessiliflorum]]''), turkey berry (''[[Solanum torvum|S. torvum]]''), pepino or pepino melon (''[[Solanum muricatum|S. muricatum]]''), tamarillo (''[[Tamarillo|S. betaceum]]''), wolf apple (''[[Solanum lycocarpum|S. lycocarpum]]''), garden huckleberry (''[[Solanum scabrum|S. scabrum]]'') and "[[bush tomato]]es" (several [[Australia]]n species).

=== Ornamentals ===
The species most widely seen in cultivation as ornamental plants are:
* ''[[Solanum aviculare|S. aviculare]]'' (kangaroo apple)
* ''[[Solanum capsicastrum|S. capsicastrum]]'' (false Jerusalem cherry, winter cherry)
* ''[[Solanum crispum|S. crispum]]'' (Chilean potato tree)
* ''[[Solanum laciniatum|S. laciniatum]]'' (kangaroo apple)
* ''[[Solanum laxum|S. laxum]]'' (potato vine)
* ''[[Solanum mammosum|S. mammosum]]'' (Nipplefruit, titty fruit, cow's udder, apple of Sodom)
* ''[[Solanum pseudocapsicum|S. pseudocapsicum]]'' (Christmas cherry, winter cherry)
* ''[[Solanum rantonnetii|S. rantonnetii]]'' (blue potato bush)
* ''[[Solanum seaforthianum|S. seaforthianum]]'' (Italian jasmine, St. Vincent lilac)
* ''[[Solanum mauritianum|S. mauritianum]]'' (woolly nightshade, earleaf nightshade)
* ''[[Solanum wendlandii|S. wendlandii]]'' (paradise flower, potato vine)<ref name=RHSAZ>{{cite book|title=RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants|year=2008|publisher=Dorling Kindersley|location=United Kingdom|isbn=978-1405332965|page=1136}}</ref>

=== Medicine ===
Several species are locally used in [[folk medicine]], particularly by native people who have long employed them.