Solanum melongena

Solanum melongena, commonly known as the eggplant or aubergine, is a species of nightshade grown for its edible fruit. It is a member of the Solanaceae family, which also includes tomatoes, potatoes, and bell peppers. The plant is native to South Asia and East Asia and was later introduced to the Mediterranean region.

Description

The Solanum melongena plant is a perennial in tropical and subtropical climates but is cultivated as an annual in temperate climates. It grows 40 to 150 cm tall, with large, coarsely lobed leaves that are 10 to 20 cm long and 5 to 10 cm broad. The semi-wild varieties can grow much larger, up to 225 cm with large leaves over 30 cm long and 15 cm broad. The stem is often spiny and the flower, with a five-lobed corolla and yellow stamens, is white to purple, with a purple stigma.

Cultivation

Solanum melongena is grown worldwide for its fruit, which can be purple, black, red, white, yellow or striped in color, and varies in size from 1.2 to 25 cm. The fruit is botanically classified as a berry and contains numerous small, soft seeds. It is rich in energy, dietary fiber, and a good source of vitamins B1 and B6 and potassium. It also contains phytonutrients such as nasunin and chlorogenic acid.

Culinary uses

The raw fruit can have a somewhat bitter taste, but becomes tender when cooked and develops a rich, complex flavor. Many recipes advise salting, rinsing and draining the sliced fruit to soften it and to reduce the amount of fat absorbed during cooking, but mainly to remove the bitterness of the earlier cultivars. Some modern varieties do not need this treatment, as they are less bitter.

Cultural significance

In India, Solanum melongena is considered the "king of vegetables". It is also featured in the famous painting by Sir John Everett Millais, "Ophelia", where it represents the potential for tragic fate.

See also

• List of eggplant dishes
• Eggplant production in China
• Eggplant functional genomics

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