----- . So it all seemed reliable.
>
> >I'm looking forward to getting clarity on this.
from http://www.pfaf.org/

jean-claude

Solanum melongena
      Common name: Aubergine Family: Solanaceae
      Author: L. Botanical references: 200
      Synonyms:
      Known Hazards: All green parts of the plant are poisonous[19].
      Range: The origin of this plant is obscure.
      Habitat: Not known in the wild.
      Plants For A Future Rating (1-5): 3

      Other Possible Synonyms: From various places across the web, may not
be correct. See below.
      S. esculentum[H]
      Other Common Names: From various places around the Web, may not be
correct. See below.
      Aubergine [H,E ], Baingan [E ], Belinjele [E ], Beregene [E ],
Berengena [E ], Berengene [E ], Berengine [E ], Berenjena [E ], Brinjal
[H ], Ch'Ieh [E ], Ch'Ieh Ken [E ], Egg-plant? [L ], Eggplant [P,B,E ],
Eggplants [H ], Enchong [E ], Jew's Apple [H ], K'Un Lun Kua [E ], Lo Su
[E ], Mad Apple [H ], Melongene [E ], Nasu [E ], Nasubi [E ], Strychnos
Kepaios [E ], Terong Hijau [E ], Terong Manis [E ], Terong Ungu [E ],
      Systematics: From a UDSA Plants Database
      Order: Solanales . Potato family
      Other Range Info: From the Ethnobotany Database
      Amboina; Belgium; Britain; China; Dominican Republic; Greece; Guyana;
Haiti; India; India(Santal); Japan; Malaya; Mexico; Venezuela; Wi
      Plant Passport required for Trade in UK/EU From DEFRA Plant
passporting.
      Plant Passport Required for trade in the UK/Europe.
      Plant Passport required for Trade in UK/EU From DEFRA Plant
passporting.
      Plant Passport Required for commercial growers in the UK/Europe.
      Plant Passport required for Trade in UK/EU From DEFRA Plant
passporting.
      Plant Passport Required for commercial growers in the UK/Europe.

Physical Characteristics
Perennial growing to 1m. It is hardy to zone 9 and is frost tender. It is in
leaf from May to October, in flower from July to September, and the seeds
ripen from August to October. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male
and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects. We rate it 3 out of 5 for
usefulness.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and
requires well-drained soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic
(alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It requires moist soil.

Habitats and Possible Locations
Cultivated Beds.
Edible Uses
Fruit; Leaves.
Fruit - raw or cooked[1, 2, 16, 27, 33]. The fruit should not be eaten
raw[132]. It can be baked, stewed or added to soups, curries etc[183]. The
fruit is said to be very nutritious[7]. It is a good source of vitamin C and
potassium[201]. The fruit can be up to 20cm long in cultivated plants[200].

Leaves - mixed with rice bran and salt in which 'Daikon' (a form of radish
[Raphanus sativa]) roots have been pickled[183]. Caution is advised, see the
notes on toxicity above.

Medicinal Uses
Disclaimer
Anticholesterolemic; Antidote; Astringent; Narcotic; Poultice.

The aubergine is used mainly as a food crop, but it does also have various
medicinal uses that make it a valuable addition to the diet. In particular
the fruit helps to lower blood cholesterol levels and is suitable as part of
a diet to help regulate high blood pressure[7, 254].

The fruit is antihaemorrhoidal and hypotensive[7]. It is also used as an
antidote to poisonous mushrooms[218]. It is bruised with vinegar and used as
a poultice for cracked nipples, abscesses and haemorrhoids[178, 218, 254].

The leaves are narcotic[240]. A decoction is applied to discharging sores
and internal haemorrhages[218]. A soothing and emollient poultice for the
treatment of burns, abscesses, cold sores and similar conditions can be made
from the leaves[254]. Aubergine leaves are toxic and should only be used
externally[254].

The ashes of the peduncle are used in the treatment of intestinal
haemorrhages, piles and toothache[218].

A decoction of the root is astringent[178, 218].

Other Uses
None known
Cultivation details
Requires a very warm, sheltered sunny position, though it succeeds in most
soils[1]. Requires plenty of moisture[132], though the soil should be
well-drained. Requires a pH in the range 5.5 to 6.8[200].

The aubergine is often cultivated, especially in tropical areas, for its
edible fruit, there are many named varieties[183, 200]. The plant is not
frost-hardy, though it can be grown as an annual in temperate zones. It can,
however, be difficult to ripen the fruit from outdoor grown plants in cooler
temperate climates such as Britain. In this country they are more commonly
grown in a warm or cool greenhouse or in a frame. A steady temperature of
25 - 30°c is required during the growing season for the best production of
flowers and fruit[200].

A short-lived perennial plant, it is usually cultivated as an annual[142,
200].

Plants should be restricted to no more than 4 fruits to make sure they reach
a good size and ripen properly[33].

Plants are rarely bothered by pests or diseases[132]. Slugs, snails and
caterpillars love this plant[201].

Aubergines grow well with beans, tarragon and thyme[201]. Aromatic plants
such as lavender, tansy, marigolds or wormwood help to keep aphids at
bay[201]. Grows badly with potatoes, onions and garlic[201].
Propagation
Seed - sow early spring in a warm greenhouse with a minimum temperature of
15°c[200]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots once they are large
enough to handle and grow them on fast. If growing them outdoors, plant out
after the last expected frosts.
Cultivars
  ''
  There are many named varieties of this annual fruit, with new forms being
developed. At present there is not time to enter these in the database and
it is recommended that you consult the book 'The Fruit and Vegetable Finder'
which is updated regularly and can be obtained from libraries.
Suppliers
For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which
lists many more places to look.

Web References
  a.. Latin and Worldwide Common Names From Multilingual Multiscript Plant
Name Database by M. H. Porcher et. al. 1995 - 2000 Landcare Systems Research
Laboratory, Department of Crop Production,Institute of Land and Food
Resources, The University of Melbourne, Australia.
  b.. [H] Details of Scandanavian and European Common names in Henriette's
names database
  c.. [E] Ethnobotany Data (common names, uses, countries) from the
Ethnobotany Database.
  d.. [V] Images from the Vascular Plant Image Gallery of the Texas A&M
Bioinformatics Working Group.
  e.. [B] Data (Latin & Common names, other references) from the BONAP's
Synonymized Checklist of the Vascular Flora of the United States, Puerto
Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
  f.. [G] Data (Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's
GRIN taxonomic database.
  g.. [PHARM] Phytochemical Data (common names, uses, countries) from Dr
Duke's Phytochemical Database.
  h.. [P] Data. (uses, distribution, wetland) from the UDSA'a Plants
database.
  i.. [HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database
References for solanum melongena (a possible synonym).
  a.. [HP] PhotoFrom Henriette's plant pictures
  b.. [HP] PhotoFrom Henriette's plant pictures
References for the family Solanaceae.

See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources or the The Gatherer where you can
search many other sources all in one go.

References
[1] F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford
University Press 1951
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it
has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).

[2] Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover
Publications 1972 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.

[7] Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984 ISBN
0-356-10541-5
Covers plants growing in Europe. Also gives other interesting information on
the plants. Good photographs.

[16] Simons. New Vegetable Growers Handbook. Penguin 1977 ISBN
0-14-046-050-0
A good guide to growing vegetables in temperate areas, not entirely organic.

[19] Stary. F. Poisonous Plants. Hamlyn 1983 ISBN 0-600-35666-3
Not very comprehensive, but easy reading.

[27] Vilmorin. A. The Vegetable Garden. Ten Speed Press ISBN 0-89815-041-8
A reprint of a nineteenth century classic, giving details of vegetable
varieties. Not really that informative though.

[33] Organ. J. Rare Vegetables for Garden and Table. Faber 1960
Unusual vegetables that can be grown outdoors in Britain. A good guide.

[132] Bianchini. F., Corbetta. F. and Pistoia. M. Fruits of the Earth.
Lovely pictures, a very readable book.

[142] Brouk. B. Plants Consumed by Man. Academic Press 1975 ISBN
0-12-136450-x
Readable but not very comprehensive.

[178] Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials
Centre
A translation of an ancient Chinese herbal. Fascinating.

[183] Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong
Publications 1990 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional
food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N.
American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries
from around the world.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press
1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly
mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[201] Allardice.P. A - Z of Companion Planting. Cassell Publishers Ltd. 1993
ISBN 0-304-34324-2
A well produced and very readable book.

[218] Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference
Publications, Inc. 1985 ISBN 0-917256-20-4
Details of over 1,200 medicinal plants of China and brief details of their
uses. Often includes an analysis, or at least a list of constituents. Heavy
going if you are not into the subject.

[240] Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian
Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and
Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986
Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of
references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the
casual reader.

[254] Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling
Kindersley. London 1996 ISBN 9-780751-303148
An excellent guide to over 500 of the more well known medicinal herbs from
around the world.