I’ve seen a lot of plants with thorny stems but this is the first thorny leaf I’ve seen and photographed. The fruit of the plant itself is strange looking — like the head of an animal complete with ears. There’s an older photo of this yellow fruit in the archive taken during a previous stay at Balay Indang. It caught our attention then but, during our most recent visit, it was the leaves that appeared more interesting. It’s as though they’re saying “Hands off!”
The pink flowers aren’t part of this plant. They grow from a bush planted right beside the one with the piglet-fruits.
parang nakakita na ko nyan pero di ko matandaan kung saan. yan daw pala, ayon kay google is the Nipple Fruit, Solanum mammosum, a.k.a. Titty Fruit, Cow’s Udder, Apple of Sodom. search mo nalang
LOL Lalong naging intriguing ahahaha
Hey, Connie! I used this one in one of my centerpiece arrangements para sa family reunion last June 1020– I bought the bundle sa Farmers’ Market (P150/ 3 stems) — they call it “Mickey Mouse!” And ang tagal ng fruit malanta ha… siguro inabot ng 4 or 5 months.
Hi, Ms. Connie!
some of them do look like Mickey Mouse!
According to our tour guide at Bohol Bee Farm, this one’s called Mickey Mouse fruit
Did he say if it was edible?
the fruit in your picture is edable but it is not from the same plant u show in your picture above
That’s so interesting! I’ve never seen anything like that before. Yes,that’s what I want to know-is it edible?
like ko din ng ganyang plant ang ganda naman, di ko nga lang alam where to buy prob meron nyan sa tagaytay.
its not edible, its poisonous
dear Connie Veneracion ,that fruit does not grow on that plant.the plant u show is called a “tropical soda apple” or Solanum viarum Dunal
.http://www.invasive.org/browse/subinfo.cfm?sub=2446
it also does not make pink flowers.it is white
it is a invasive plant.Tropical soda apple is a perennial, shrubby forb that is on the Federal Noxious Weed list. Plants grow to 6 ft. (1.8 m) in height and width. Leaves are broad, 6-8 in. (15-20 cm) long, 2-6 in. (5.1-15.2 cm) wide, hairy and resemble fig or oak leaves. The entire plant is armed with ¾ in. (1.9 cm) long, straight prickles. Flowering occurs year-round, with most reproduction occurring from September to May. White, 5-petaled flowers develop, in clusters, below the leaves. Fruit are 1 in. (2.5 cm) in diameter and resemble a watermelon (a mottled mix of whitish and dark greens). Tropical soda apple primarily invades pastures, fields, and parks, but also has the potential to invade open forest and other natural areas. Tropical soda apple forms thick stands that can be impenetrable to livestock, large wildlife, and humans. Tropical soda apple is native to South America and was introduced accidentally into Florida in the 1980s.
You can theorize all you want, I was there, it was the same plant and I took the photos.