Berry eggplant

            Solanaceae

            Turkey berry, Berry eggplant, lesser eggplant, small eggplant, plate bush, eggplant pea aubergine

            Ba khwaeng kula, Ba khwaeng (Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Lamphun); Makhuea phuang (Central); Mak khaeng (Northeast); Ma waeng chang, Ma waeng (South); Chue-po-lue-ku (Hmong). (Kanchana Diwiset et al., 2005, p. 18; Tuenchan Chaisin et al., 2002, p. 13; Bunchuen Chairat, 1999, p. 1346).

            A small, high bush tree of approximately 2 meters tall similar to that of Ma waeng (incanum L. S.). Stems are sparsely lined up with thorns. Bark is whitish green and quite smooth without cracks. Leaf: not deciduous, hairy young leaves and tips, soft, simple alternate planar, broad ovate or almost triangular or heart-shaped with wavy margins around the base; tips are pointed soft and smooth above and minutely hairy below; 3-5 X 4-6 inches with a network of veins. Flower: white branched cluster with 2-12 flowers, bisexual, budding out at the tips and close to the leaf base; long pedicel, 5 sepals, 5 pointed star-like petals. Fruit: single small berry-like with green leathery or pulpy rind mostly in a cluster with smooth sepals; 1.0 – 1.3 cm. pale yellow when ripe, many seeds; flowering and bearing fruits all year round. The bush likes to grow on a flat terrain or mountains or in the fields and gardens that have no taller trees to shade it.

            The fruit contains calcium, phosphorous, iron, vitamins A-B1-B2 and C as well as niacin (Phak Phuen Ban: A-han Phuan Mueang, 2006, p. 69, in Thai). Young fruits can be eaten fresh with any kinds of chili sauce dip (namphrik) or used as an ingredient of yam phak (spicy vegetable salads), especially yam sanat, kaeng ho, kaeng pa and kaeng khua (Bunchuen Chairat, 1999, p. 1346). It is sometimes crushed and added to chili sauce to create a well-blended taste (Thawithong Hongwiwat, 1999, p. 56).

In Lanna medicine, the berries are used in the formula or medicine for infants who are sick and appear swollen throughout their body or to be used to quench a dry throat (Bunchuen Chairat, 1999, p. 1346). The stems can be used to ward off drunkenness and are believed to make whisky or liquor less bitter. Continual intake is believed to improve problems with diabetes, bruises and soreness, better blood circulation and urination. (Tueanchai Chaisri et al., 2002, p. 13).
The leaves are pulverized and placed on wounds to stop bleeding or placed on a boil abscess with pus (Phak Phuen Ban: A-han Phuen Mueang, 2006, p. 69).
The berries are boiled to get rid of a cough and phlem or to increase the appetite and reduce blood pressure (Phak Phuen Ban: A-han Phuen Mueang, 2006, p. 69).
The seeds can be roasted until smoke comes out and inhaling the smoke of it can reduce toothaches. Fresh roots are pulverized and placed on the dry and cracked feet to heal the fissures (Tueanchai Chaisri et al., 2002, p. 13).

            All year round

            

Kanchana Diwiset et al., compiler. (2005) Phak Phuen Ban Phak Nuea. Phennapha Sapcharoen (Ed.). (2^nd ed.). Nonthaburi: The Institute of Thai National Medicine. (in Thai).

Tuenchai Chaisri et al. (2002) Samutphap Samunphrai: Project “Monya Padaet”. Bangkok: The Thailand Research Fund. (in Thai).

Thawithong Hongwiwat. (2004). Saranukrom Phak: Rueang Watthanatham Lae Sut A-han Knong Phak Nanachanit. (2^nd ed.). Bangkok: Saeng Daet. (in Thai).

Phak Phuen Ban: A-han Phuen Mueang. (2006). Bangkok: Fa-aphai Co. Ltd. (in Thai).