Eggplant as "S. edule", which is also a junior synonym of sticky nightshade ("S. sisymbriifolium"). Scopoli's "S. zeylanicum" refers to the eggplant, and that of Blanco to "S. lasiocarpum". Eggplant Eggplant (US), aubergine (UK), or brinjal (South Asia and South Africa ) is a plant species in the nightshade family Solanaceae, "Solanum melongena", grown for its often purple edible fruit. The spongy, absorbent fruit of the plant is widely used in cooking in many different cuisines, and is often considered a vegetable, even though it is a berry by botanical definition. As a member of the genus "Solanum", it is related
Berry (botany) is given the special name "hesperidium". A specialized term, pepo, is also used for fruits of the gourd family Cucurbitaceae, which are modified to have a hard outer rind, but are not internally divided by septae. The fruits of "Passiflora" (passion fruit) and "Carica" (papaya) are sometimes also considered pepos. Berries that develop from an inferior ovary are sometimes termed epigynous berries or false berries, as opposed to true berries, which develop from a superior ovary. In epigynous berries, the berry includes tissue derived from parts of the flower besides the ovary. The floral tube, formed from the basal part