Wolf apple

species of plant

The Wolf apple is a plant from the nightshade family that occurs in Brazillian savanna. The plant itself is called lobeira or fruta-do-lobo in Portguese. The fruit is called wolf apple because it accounts for more than half of the Maned wolf's diet. [1] Its scientific name, Solanum lycocarpum, also refers to the wolf: Lyco- (from Ancient Greek Lykos - Wolf, and carp - fruit. The plant grows as a bush or a tree up to 5 metres (16 ft) high. The ripe fruit is edible, the rest of the plant is poisonous. Local people use the fruits to make jams. The fruit contains a lot of starch. Sometimes, it is also used to feeed livestock.

Flower
Fruit

References change

  1. J. C. Motta-Junior, S. A.Talamoni, J. A. Lombardi, and K. Simokomaki (1996): "Diet of the maned wolf, Chrysocyon brachyurus, in central Brazil". Journal of Zoology, volume 240, issue 2, pages 277–284. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1996.tb05284.x