naranjilla—a reluctant guest’” in Agric. Americas 7 
(1947) 146-149). In Colombia, it seems to be found 
from Popayan southward, but a northern variety with 
spines is found from El] Valle north and into Venezuela. 
In Colombia, it is not grown in any commercial quanti- 
ties save in Narino; the naranjllo or lulo may be found 
in abundance throughout the year in the native market 
in Pasto, 
Solanum quitoense is cultivated on a large scale chiefly 
in Banos in EF] Topo region of Ecuador (Chalons, M. E.R. 
‘*Naranjillas—the golden fruit of the Andes” in Agric. 
Americas 4 (1944) 110-112). It is planted about 255 to 
an hektar and bears for fourteen to twenty-four months. 
The annual yield per hektar has been estimated as 12,500 
gallons of juice and the ‘‘production of 2,000 tons of fruit 
requires not more than 100 hektars (about 24.7) acres 
of land.’ 
Hodge has postulated that, while Solanum quitoense 
dates certainly from pre-Spanish times, it is a relatively 
new arrival on the scene of cultivated plants (Hodge, 
W.H.: ‘‘Naranjillas or ‘little oranges’ of the Andean 
highlands’* in Journ. N.Y. Bot. Gard. 48 (1947) 155— 
159). His main argument for this thesis stems from the 
absence of the naranjillo from pre-Columbian plant re- 
mains in ancient Peru. It is true that Solanum quitoense 
may not have been known to the Incas of Peru, but we 
must bear in mind that this plant must have a long asso- 
ciation with man and agriculture, inasmuch as it is ap- 
parently no longer found in a wild state. 
The fruit of nraranjlla, so called because its color 
matches that of the orange. is not eaten directly but is 
prepared ina sorbete or drink. Sugar must be added be- 
‘cause the flavor is rather tartly acid. The drink is beaten 
into a foamy consistency when served. The freshly 
squeezed light greenish juice is rich in pepsin and albu- 
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