Guess What I Am VI

I got the genus on this one right when I was looking at it but I wouldn't have done better than that were it not for the plant stake underneath it with the species. This one would have stumped me. First clue-

Second-

This is the photo that gave me the genus-

Solanum or Grewia?

BINGO to Solanum. Now what's the species?

dulcamara?

Nope.

Third pic looks a little like Tree Tomato, for which PlantFiles gives Solanum as an alternative genus name for Cyphomandra.

BINGO, it's a tree tomato! Tree Tomato (Solanum betaceum)-

Tree Tomato!!! - YUM - Where did you see this growing?

In the conservatory at Duke University.

There is a multi-ethnic store here that sells tomarillos as well as there relatives tomatillos and tomatos.

Equil,

What took you down to Duke? Was the conservatory at the Sarah P. Duke Garden? I was there this summer but I avoid conservatories on principle. Too much wierd stuff in 'em that I won't ever be able to grow anyway. So is this a tomarillo? I will have to ask my roommates how to use this. They use tomatillos y tomatoes but I've not heard of or seen a tomarillo. Dirr has a little patch of Hydrangeas that he's trialing at the very back of arboretum. I stumbled into them and evaluated but there were no names and were in their first year in the ground so not much could be told about them.

Regards,
Ernie

I can't answer your question as to whether that's a tomarillo or not but maybe Larry can. I wasn't familiar with the plant but was attracted to it because of its growth form and leaves. I like leaves. I knew the genus but wouldn't have known the species were it not for the plant stake in the pot.

The carnivorous plants they were growing brought me to Duke. Unremarkable collection of mishmash. Their horticulture department rotates the temperate CPs out and attempts to provide dormancies for some of their Sarracenia while others are being used in classrooms but they never did get the new conservatory they were promised so plants are literally rammed in. They had Dionaea muscipula in with succulents and cactus while the Sarracenia were in with tropicals. Their Nepenthes looked good but then they had mostly highland species and those can be somewhat bombproof although the pitchers weren't hydrated and they don't supplementally feed. I didn't say much. Not much you can say. I missed the Hydrangea test plots.

I used to eat TAMarillo's (LOL) back home in New Zealand a lot, but not here in the States. My local supermarket has them occasionally but for abut $1.00 each!!! Way too pricey. My grandparents used to have a very large tree growing in their back yard but they were in the warmer part of the far North of NZ. If you ever get the chance to try one I definitely recommend them. They are sweet, but very tart eaten just like a kiwi or fantastic stewed like apples or in a chutney or relish. MMmmmmmmm.......