374 WILD FOOD PLANTS OF THE PHILIPPINES 



sili (Union, Bontoc, Mindoro, Batanes Islands, Batangas, Nueva Vizcaya, 

 Balabak Island, Palawan). 



The fruit of the common form is red, oblong, and from 1.5 

 to 2.5 centimeters in length. It has a very sharp taste and is 

 used as a condiment. 



Capsicmn fndescens is an erect, branched, shrub-like herb 

 0.8 to 1.5 meters high. The leaves are pointed at the tip and 3 

 to 10 centimeters in length. The flowers occur singly or in 

 clusters of a few in the axils of the leaves. They are pale green 

 or yellowish green, and from 8 to 9 millimeters in diameter. 



This species is a native of tropical America, but is now found 

 in all tropical countries. It is occasionally found in waste places 

 throughout the Philippines and is also commonly cultivated. 



Genus LYCOPERSICUM 

 LYCOPERSICUM ESCULENTUM Mill. TOMATO. 



Local names: Kamdtes (Bontoc, Benguet, Rizal, Camarines) ; kamdtes- 

 bondok (Balabac Island). 



In the Philippines there is a naturalized form of the common 

 tomato with fruits about 1 to 1.5 centimeters in diameter. 



Lycopersicum esculentum is a coarse, hairy, annual herb, with 

 alternate, compound leaves. The flowers are yellow, and 1 to 1.5 

 centimeters in length. The fruit is rounded, red, contains many 

 seeds, and is edible. 



Genus SOLAN UM 

 SOLANUM CUMINGII Dun. Talongtalongan. 



Local names: Balbalosa (Camiguin Island) ; bal-bal-lusa (Union, Pan- 

 gasinan) ; malvalusa (Cagayan) ; tabiilak (Pangasinan) ; talongtalongan 

 (Polillo, Marinduque) ; tahingtalungan (Negros) ; talingtaling (Basilan) ; 

 tarambolo ( Bulacan ) . 



The fruit of this species is rounded, smooth, about 2.5 centi- 

 meters in diameter, and green mottled with white, or yellow. 

 The unripe fruit is cooked and eaten as a vegetable. 



Solanum cumingii is a spreading or ascending, somewhat 

 branched, hairy herb 30 to 60 centimeters in height. The stems, 

 petioles and leaves are armed with scattered, sharp, rather stout 

 spines, which are 3 to 6 millimeters long. The leaves are alter- 

 nate, somewhat pointed at the tip, inequilateral at the base, irreg- 

 ularly lobed on the margins, and 4 to 12 centimeters in length. 

 The flowers are violet or purplish, nearly 2 centimeters in diam- 

 eter, and are borne in small numbers on small flowering branches 

 which are in the axils of the leaves. 



This species is widely distributed in open, waste places in the 

 Philippines. 



