Common Name: Purple fruited pea egg plant. Tamil Name: Tuduvalai
Purple fruited pea egg plant is native to Indian sub-continent it is a weak stemmed prickly sub-shrub with scrambling tendencies. The simple leaves are arranged in an alternate manner; the leaf margin is entire and generally appear tri-lobed. The leaf stalk measure around 2.8 cm in length and has few prickles on them. The prickles cover the entire plant and each measure around 4 mm and look curved. The prickles are present on the both side of the leaf surface, mostly, fixed around the mid-vein. The leaf length and leaf across measure around 3.7 cm and 3.5 cm respectively. The inflorescence is axillary; the flower has 5 purple colored petals which spread out in star-like appearance and are joint together below. The calyx is green in color and measure around 3 mm; the five sepals teeth are present. The flower stalk measurer around 2 cm; the flower measures across 4 cm. Th petals are elliptic in shape and each measuring around 2 cm. The fruit is a berry seen with the persistent calyx elements. The flower has 5 stamens which are prominently seen in yellow color. The fruit is initially green in color and turn coral red in color when ripe. Often planted in house gardens as a medicinal plant- used in treatment of various respiratory diseases. However, many parts of the plant are poisonous.
