textAdminOnlyNameForClipboard
Bitter Apple
Solanum linnaeanum
SA tree number
English: Bitter Apple, Apple of Sodom, Devil's Apple, Sodom Apple, Poison Apple, Thorn Apple
Afrikaans: Bitterappel, Gifappel
Xhosa: Umthuma, Umtuma
Zulu: Umthuma, Umtuma
Historical scientific names: Solanum sodomaeum
Misapplied scientific names: Solanum incanum, Solanum hermannii
Solanum linnaeanum, commonly known as the Bitter Apple, Apple of Sodom or Bitterappel, is a highly branched, spiny, perennial shrub. It is easily recognised by its deeply lobed, prickly leaves, purple flowers, and striking yellow fruits. When unripe, these fruits resemble small watermelons due to their green colour with paler green markings.
Have you got a better picture?
If you don't mind us using it, please upload it by clicking the Upload button below (you must be logged in to do this)
Distinguishing features:
A densely spiny shrub with sharp, yellowish spines on stems and leaves.
Leaves are deeply lobed (pinnatifid) and also spiny.
Flowers are star-shaped, purplish-blue to white.
Fruits are round, resembling small tomatoes, ripening from green to bright yellow, often with mottled patterns. When immature, they are green with paler green or whitish mottling, resembling small watermelons.
The plant is highly poisonous.
Overall appearance:
A robust, highly branched perennial shrub, typically growing upright or sprawling. It is densely covered in sharp spines on almost all parts, forming dense thickets.
Height:
Typically 0.5 m to 2 m high.
Width:
Can spread widely, forming dense, impenetrable thickets.
Leaves:
Leaves are alternate, deeply lobed (pinnatifid or pinnatisect), resembling oak leaves, and can be up to 150 mm long and 100 mm wide. Both surfaces of the leaves, especially along the veins, are armed with sharp, yellowish or whitish spines, which can be up to 15 mm long. The leaf stalks (petioles) are also spiny. Leaves are hairy, particularly on the lower surface.
Flowers:
Flowers are typically star-shaped with five petals (corolla lobes), purplish-blue to violet, occasionally white. They are about 20 mm to 30 mm in diameter. Flowers are borne in small clusters (cymes) of 1-5 flowers in the leaf axils. The calyx (outer part of the flower) is also prickly. They have prominent yellow stamens fused into a cone.
Flowering season:
Mainly spring to summer (September to March), but can flower almost year-round in favourable conditions.
Fruits:
Fruits are spherical berries, resembling small tomatoes, approximately 20 mm to 30 mm in diameter.
They ripen from green with lighter mottling to a bright, glossy yellow or orange-yellow when mature.
When immature, they are pale green with dark green markings, like immature watermelons.
They are hard and bitter, and remain on the plant for a long time.
Seeds:
Numerous (up to 200 per fruit), flattened, disc-shaped, brown to black seeds are contained within the fleshy fruit. They are viable for many years.
Stems:
Stems are green and herbaceous when young, becoming woody and brownish with age. They are densely covered in sharp, straight, yellowish or whitish spines, up to 15 mm long. The branches are often zigzagging.
Thorns:
Yes, sharp, straight, yellowish or whitish spines, up to 15 mm long, are present on stems, branches, and both surfaces of the leaves, as well as on the calyx.
Roots:
Possesses a deep taproot system, making it difficult to remove manually.
Soil type:
Highly adaptable, grows in a wide range of soil types, including disturbed soils, sandy soils, gravelly soils, and heavy clays. It tolerates poor soil conditions.
Aspect:
Prefers full sun but can tolerate light shade.
Edibility:
Not edible. The fruits are very bitter and highly poisonous.
Toxicity:
Highly toxic to humans and livestock if ingested. All parts of the plant, especially the unripe fruits, contain toxic glycoalkaloids (e.g., solanine, solasonine, solamargine). Ingestion can cause severe gastrointestinal upset, neurological symptoms, and can be fatal. Contact with the spines can also cause irritation.
Uses:
Ecological role: Provides habitat and food for some wildlife species despite its toxicity.
Traditional medicine (cautionary): Despite its toxicity, some traditional uses have been reported in various cultures, but this is highly risky due to its poisonous nature.
Ecology:
Spread: Can spread rapidly, forming dense, impenetrable thickets, particularly in disturbed areas.
Spine protection: The dense spines protect the plant from grazing by most livestock, allowing it to dominate areas.
Seed dispersal: Fruits are attractive to some indigenous birds (e.g., bulbuls, starlings) and potentially mammals (e.g., baboons), which consume the fruits and disperse the viable seeds in their droppings. This is a primary method of spread.
Competition: Can outcompete other plants, especially in disturbed or overgrazed areas.
Distribution and habitat:
Indigenous to South Africa, widespread across all provinces except the Northern Cape.
It commonly grows in disturbed areas, degraded pastures, roadsides, overgrazed veld, waste areas, fynbos, grasslands, and savannas. It is particularly problematic in grazing lands due to its toxicity and invasive tendencies within its native range.
Derivation of name:
The genus name Solanum is derived from the Latin word solamen, meaning 'comfort' or 'soothing', referring to the narcotic properties of some species in the genus (e.g., deadly nightshade).
The species name linnaeanum honours Carl Linnaeus, the famous Swedish botanist who developed the modern system of binomial nomenclature.
The common name "Apple of Sodom" refers to a biblical tale about poisonous fruits from the Dead Sea region, which resemble these fruits. "Bitter Apple" refers to its highly unpleasant taste.
Historical aspects:
Has been confused with other Solanum species, particularly Solanum hermannii and Solanum incanum, due to similarities in appearance and spiny nature. Despite being indigenous, it can exhibit invasive tendencies within its native range, especially in disturbed or degraded areas.
Interesting facts:
Don't let its pretty yellow "apples" fool you – this plant is seriously toxic! It's famous for being the legendary "Apple of Sodom," mentioned in ancient texts as a beautiful but deadly fruit.
Talk about prickly! This shrub is absolutely covered in sharp spines, from its stems to its leaves, making it a very unwelcome neighbour for most animals (and humans!).
Even though it's a South African native, it can be a bit of a bully in disturbed areas, spreading quickly and making it tough for other plants to grow. And those unripe fruits look just like mini watermelons – but don't be tempted to eat them!
Growing tips:
Solanum linnaeanum is generally not cultivated in gardens due to its spiny nature, toxicity, and tendency to become weedy even within its indigenous range.
If encountered in a natural setting or disturbed area, caution should be exercised due to its spines and poisonous fruits.
It is a resilient plant that establishes easily in a wide variety of conditions, which contributes to its weedy nature.
This plant is a fantastic alternative for:
Common name
Scientific Name
Plant type:
Plant type
Plant family:
Plant family (derivation)