1. Solanum aethiopicum L. (syn.: S. integrifolium Poir., S. gillo Raddi) (Afr.) – A very rare and ephemeral alien. Recorded twice in 2008: several plants on a compost heap in a garden in Buggenhout (most likely from discarded kitchen waste) and one plant on a demolition site in Antwerpen. In 2013 also seen in Kasterlee.
Solanum aethiopicum (African eggplant) is a close relative of S. melongena. It is an important vegetable in Africa and is increasingly grown in Europe as well. It is a taxonomically complex species in which four cultivar groups are distinguished (Lester 1986). Both Belgian records are referable to var. aculeatum Dun., a spiny cultivar that is usually grown as an ornamental.
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Selected literature:
Lester R.N. (1986) Taxonomy of scarlet eggplants, Solanum aethiopicum L. Acta Hort. 182: 125-132.
Sękara A., Cebula S. & Kunicki E. (2007) Cultivated eggplants – origin, breeding objectives and genetic resources, a review. Folia Hort. 19(1): 97-114.