Eagle’s Complete Trees and Shrubs of New Zealand. Volume II

2006

Private Collection

Wellington: Te Papa Press

All but one of the plants in Eagle’s Complete Trees and Shrubs are drawn from life and appear life-size, with some parts enlarged. A brief description of each plant’s appearance and habitat is given, alongside the Latin names (family, genus and species), common name, and, where applicable, its Māori nomenclature. Solanum aviculare is a member of the Nightshade family and is commonly known as poroporo or New Zealand nightshade. The leaves contain a steroid, solasodine, which can be used as a contraceptive. The leaves can also be boiled and made into a salve, relieving skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. The berries are toxic when green but edible when they ripen to orange.