men, proteins (up to 1.5%) and minerals (especially lime, 
magnesium and phosphate varying from .98% to 1.6%) 
(Gattoni, I. As: *‘La narangjilla (Solanum quitoense) 
Serv. Interam. Coop. Agric., Min. Agric. Com. Industr. 
Panama (April 1957). The taste of the Juice, when sweet- 
ened, has been likened toa combination of orange, pine- 
apple and tomato. 
Attempts have been made to cultivate Solanum quito- 
ense outside of its native range, but they have not been 
successful except in Guatemala. A recent cytological 
study indicates the occurrence of structural heterozy gosi- 
ty in the species which might be of advantage for adapt- 
ing the plant to tolerance of wider ecological conditions. 
Solanum quitoense Lamarck var. septentrionale 
R. EE. Schultes & Cuatrecasas in Bot. Mus. Leafl. Har- 
vard Univ. 16 (1958) 100, t. 17. 
Shrub differing from Solanwm quitoense primarily in 
having spines and spinules on the branches, petioles and 
nerves of both surfaces of the leaf. 
It seems that typical Solanum quitoense is confined to 
Keuador and southern Colombia. It is completely devoid 
of spines. Specimens from the northern periphery of the 
range of this species, however, are, with one exception, 
even to the pur- 
variously spiny. In all other respects 
plish hue of the indumentum—the northern material is 
indistinguishable. There is great variation in the abun- 
dance and size of the spines. This condition does not 
argue against the separation as a distinct variety of the 
spiny from the unarmed variants, because So/anum tends 
to be extremely variable in respect to spines where they 
occur. 
Of interest in this connection is the fact that the Mutis 
collection of water-colors of Colombian plants, executed 
between 1783 and 1808 and which are preserved in the 
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