Quick facts
| Arabic name | الحدق (الحدج) |
|---|---|
| English name | Hadaq (Bitter Apple) |
| Scientific name | Solanum incanum |
| Family | Nightshade family (Solanaceae) |
| Plant type | Thorny perennial shrub |
| Height | 50 cm to 1.5 m |
| Water use | Low |
Planting and harvest calendar
Best time to plant
It grows by itself and is not planted
Harvest
Its fruits are poisonous
Times are general for the Saudi climate and may shift a few weeks by region: cooler in the highlands and the north, warmer on the coasts and in the south.
Description
A shrub covered with grey fuzz and thorns, oval leaves, purple star flowers and round fruits that turn yellow.
Where it grows
Grows in valleys, farm edges and waste land.
Soil
Grows in many soils.
Water and irrigation
Needs little water.
Climate and light
Handles heat and drought.
Propagation
By seed.
Benefits and uses
- Used in folk medicine on the skin
- Holds soil on damaged land
- Flowers attract bees
- Handles drought
Drawbacks
- Fruits are poisonous to people and animals
- Harmful thorns
- Spreads as a weed
Important notes
Never eat its fruits, and do not let children play with them.
Sources and references
The information was collected and checked from these scientific sources:
- Plants of the World Online (POWO) - Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: Solanum incanum
- Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF): Solanum incanum
- Wikipedia: Solanum incanum
- Chaudhary, S. A. (1999-2001). Flora of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Ministry of Agriculture and Water, Riyadh.
- National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification (NCVC)
- ASPCA - Toxic and non-toxic plants list
- Photo source: Wikimedia Commons (free license)