Quito-Orange

Solanum quitoense

"Solanum quitoense", known as naranjilla in Ecuador, Costa Rica, and Panama and as lulo in Colombia, is a tropical perennial plant from northwestern South America. The specific name for this species of nightshade means "from Quito."
Solanum quitoense, Santa Marta, Colombia  Colombia,Colombia 2024,Fall,Geotagged,Santa Marta,Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta,Solanum quitoense,South America,World

Appearance

The lulo plant has large elongated heart- or oval-shaped leaves up to 45 cm in length. The leaves and stems of the plant are covered in short purple hairs. Naranjilla are delicate plants and must be protected from strong winds and direct sunlight. They grow best in partial shade.

The fruit has a citrus flavour, sometimes described as a combination of rhubarb and lime. The juice of the naranjilla is green and is often used as a juice or for a drink called lulada.

Cultural

The naranjilla has been proposed as a new flavoring for the global food industry, but its faring poorly in large-scale cultivation presents an obstacle to its wider use. Its fruit, like tomatoes, is easily damaged when ripe, so is usually harvested unripe. The fruits are found at markets, and locals commonly prepare beverages by adding sugar and water to the freshly squeezed fruits.

References:

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Taxonomy
KingdomPlantae
DivisionAngiosperms
ClassEudicots
OrderSolanales
FamilySolanaceae
GenusSolanum
SpeciesS. quitoense
Photographed in
Colombia