Jaborosa caulescens

Description

Jaborosa is a genus of flowering plants in the family Solanaceae, the nightshades. There are about 23 species, all native to South America, where they are distributed from Peru to Patagonia. Most occur in the Andes. Most can be found in Argentina and ten are endemic to the country. Most Jaborosa are rhizomatous perennial herbs except J. bergii and J. sativa, which are annual or biennial. Like plants in several other Solanaceae genera, many Jaborosa species contain steroid-derived compounds called withanolides. Many of the withanolides isolated from Jaborosa have been dubbed jaborosalactones. Some withanolides are phytotoxic, having effects on other plants such as inhibiting germination and radicle growth. Some have antifeedant effects, deterring insects such as mealworms (Tenebrio molitor), the Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata), and the African cotton leafworm (Spodoptera littoralis) from consuming the plant.