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{{SPlantbox
{{SPlantbox
|familia=Solanaceae
|familia=Solanaceae
|genus=Solanum
|genus=Solanum
|species=pseudocapsicum
|species=pseudocapsicum
|common_name=Jerusalem cherry
|common_name=Jerusalem cherry
|name_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|name_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|usda_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|usda_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|max_zone=11
|max_zone=11
|image=Upload.png
|image=Solanum pseudocapsicum.jpg
|image_width=240
|image_width=240
|image_caption=Ripe fruit
}}
}}
The '''Jerusalem Cherry''' or '''Madeira Winter Cherry''' (sometimes just, ambiguously, '''"[[winter cherry]]"'''), '''''Solanum pseudocapsicum''''', is a [[nightshade]] species with poisonous [[fruit]]. These [[Perennial plant|perennials]] can be grown decoratively as a house plant, but in some areas of [[Australia]] the plant has become a [[weed]].
The plant is perennial in zones up to USDA 8. Native to Peru, they can survive frosts and cold weather. They generally live up to 10 years, producing fruit usually in their 2nd or 3rd year, and every year after that. They are [[congener]]s of [[tomato]]es and the fruit is extremely similar to [[cherry tomato]]es in taste and texture, and are therefore easily confused with them.
The Jerusalem Cherry's poison is primarily [[solanocapsine]], which is similar to other alkaloids found in their genus, such as [[solanine]] and [[atropine]]. Although the toxin is poisonous, it is generally not life-threatening. It may cause gastric problems, including vomiting and [[gastroenteritis]] as referenced in the obsolete scientific name ''S. ipecacuanha'' (roughly "[[Syrup of ipecac|ipecac]] nightshade").<ref>Spoerke & Smolinske (1990)</ref>
==Cultivation==
==Cultivation==
==Varieties==
==Varieties==
Supposedly, the plant described as '''''[[Solanum capsicastrum]]''''' and called '''False Jerusalem Cherry''' is closely related but distinct species, and the trade name "Winter Cherry" is also held to apply to this exclusively. It is said to be recognizable by more mediocre size, and/or a greyish hue to the foilage and/or stems, and/or fruit that have a pronounced yellow hue when unripe and whose pulp is not or less poisonous (though the seeds still are, making the whole fruit still inedible), and/or higher frost hardiness. But these supposed differences are inconsistently given in various horticultural sources, and no [[botany|botanical]] source has in recent times distinguished between the two. Indeed, these [[taxa]] are now generally held to refer to the same [[species]], and the "False Jerusalem Cherry", if it is at all distinguishable, seems to be a [[chemotype]] at best, or just a motley collection of [[cultivar]]s.<ref name = ss2004>Solanaceae Source (2004)</ref>
==Gallery==
==Gallery==
<gallery perrow=5>
<gallery perrow=5>
File:Solanum pseudocapsicum1.jpg| photo 1
File:Solanum pseudocapsicum3.jpg| photo 2
Image:Upload.png| photo 3
Image:Upload.png| photo 3
</gallery>
</gallery>
