Chaco potato
Solanum chacoense
Synonyms: Solanum saltense, Solanum calvescens, Solanum horovitzii var. glabristylum, Solanum subtilius, Solanum tuberosum var. glabriusculum, Solanum chacoense f. glabrescens, Solanum chacoense subsp. subtilius, Solanum chacoense subsp. muelleri, Solanum chacoense var. latisectum, Solanum chacoense f. gibberulosum, Solanum chacoense var. angustisectum, Solanum chacoense f. caipipendense, Solanum bitteri, Solanum boergeri, Solanum laplaticum, Solanum horovitzii var. multijugum, Solanum yungasense, Solanum garciae, Parmentiera balduinii, Solanum cuevoanum, Solanum arnezii, Solanum caipipendense, Solanum dolichostigma, Solanum jamesii var. grandifrons, Solanum jujuyense, Solanum yanacochense, Solanum horovitzii, Solanum chacoense f. puberulum, Solanum muelleri f. densipilum, Solanum schickii, Solanum limense, Solanum muelleri, Solanum tuberosum subsp. yanacochense, Solanum tuberosum subsp. guaraniticum, Solanum guaraniticum f. glabrescens, Solanum guaraniticum var. angustisectum, Solanum guaraniticum var. latisectum, Solanum chacoense f. plurijugum, Solanum gibberulosum, Solanum guaraniticum, Solanum knappei, Solanum emmeae, Solanum parodii
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Botanical Description
Solanum chacoense, the Chaco potato, is a wild tuber-bearing herbaceous perennial in the Solanaceae growing 30–80 cm tall from small, white, oblong stolon-borne tubers. The stems are slender, erect to decumbent, sometimes weakly angled, and bear sparse short hairs. Leaves are alternate, imparipinnately compound, 8–18 cm long, with 3–7 pairs of ovate to elliptic primary leaflets and smaller interjected leaflets along the rachis; margins are entire to slightly toothed and the surfaces are sparsely pubescent. Inflorescences are forked, terminal or leaf-opposed cymes of star-shaped flowers; the corolla is white to pale violet, 1.5–3 cm across, with five short, pointed lobes and a prominent cone of bright yellow anthers. The fruit is a small, globose, green berry 8–12 mm across containing numerous flattened seeds. It is native to South America, particularly the Gran Chaco region spanning Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Brazil, where it grows in open, disturbed sites. The tubers contain high levels of glycoalkaloids and are not eaten, but the species is an important source of genes for cultivated potato breeding.
Cultural & Historical Context
Traditional American Uses
None Documented
Chemistry & External Identifiers
Important Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.