quito-orange

Solanum quitoense

The quito-orange is a special fruit that grows on spiky plants. It has a bright orange color and a unique taste that is a little sweet and a little tangy. Kids love to explore its fun shape!

Hábitat: Mountain regions

Aspecto

The quito-orange is a striking plant with large, velvety green leaves often veined with deep purple. Its stems are thick and covered in purple fuzz, sometimes bearing small thorns. It produces small, white to pale purple star-shaped flowers that develop into round, fuzzy orange-yellow fruits.

ReinoPlantaeFiloTracheophytaClaseMagnoliopsidaOrdenSolanalesFamiliaSolanaceaeGéneroSolanum

quito-orange

Categoría

Plantas

Rareza

Common

Peligro

1/5 · Muy bajo

Snaps

¡Sé la primera persona en hacer un snap!

Datos interesantes

Did you know the fuzzy skin of a quito-orange fruit must be rubbed off before you can eat it?

In some places, people call this yummy fruit 'Naranjilla', which means 'little orange' in Spanish!

Its tangy, citrus-like flavor makes it a super popular ingredient for drinks in South America!

This plant is a relative of tomatoes and potatoes, even though its fruit looks so different!

Habilidades especiales

Quito-orange has velvety fuzz on its leaves and stems that helps protect it from pests and excessive sunlight.

Its unripe fruit contains acidic compounds that deter animals from eating it before the seeds are ready.

The quito-orange has special flowers that attract specific bees, which buzz-pollinate them for fruit production.

Medidas y detalles

Altura: 100-300 cm
Extensión: 100-200 cm
Tamaño de la flor: 1-2 cm
Temporada de floración: Todo el año
Comestible: Sí
Toxicidad: Leve
Ciclo de vida: Perenne
Método de polinización: Insectos

Conexiones ecológicas

pollinates

honey bee

Apis mellifera

Visits flowers for nectar and pollen.

pollinates

bumblebee

Bombus atratus

Performs buzz pollination on flowers.

symbiotic with

humans

Homo sapiens

Cultivates for edible fruit.

eaten by

great fruit-eating bat

Artibeus lituratus

Eats fruit, dispersing seeds.

Rasgos

Frutal

Las plantas frutales producen frutos, que son los ovarios maduros de las plantas con flores que contienen semillas.

Medicinal

Las plantas medicinales poseen compuestos químicos que pueden utilizarse con fines terapéuticos para tratar enfermedades o mantener la salud.

Árbol frutal

Un árbol frutal es un árbol perenne que produce frutos comestibles para humanos o animales.

Colorido

Colorido describe a organismos u objetos que exhiben una amplia variedad de colores brillantes y distintivos.

Comestible

Las plantas comestibles son aquellas partes de una planta que se consideran seguras para el consumo humano.

Imán para polinizadores

Describe plantas que son particularmente atractivas y beneficiosas para una amplia variedad de organismos polinizadores.

Montaña

Este rasgo de hábitat identifica a las especies que se encuentran en regiones montañosas, caracterizadas por su gran altitud, pendientes pronunciadas y zonas climáticas variables.