Katabegun or Jongli tomato, Sticky nightshade, Solanum sisymbriifolium

Katabegun or Jongli tomato (Solanum sisymbriifolium, family: Solanaceae) is an annual viscid and spiny herb native to South America and is currently distributed throughout the world. The viscid, hairy and spiny bush is found near water bodies.

Common names: Jongli tomato, sticky nightshade, viscid nightshade, wild tomato.

The erect herb (about 1 meter tall) acts as an invasive weed in some parts of its range by out-competing local vegetation.

Spiny leaves are ovate-lanceolate, 4-6 lobed, 40 cm long and 25 cm wide. The leaves are borne on petioles 1-6 cm long and are pubescent both above and below with stellate and glandular hairs.

The 5-parted flowers are white, light blue, or mauve, about 3 cm in diameter, and are subtended by a hairy calyx 5-6 mm long. 

Vivid red, succulent, globular berries are edible, almost tastes like tomatoes; 12-20 mm in diameter with pale yellow seeds 2.9-3.2 mm long.

The fruit is used as oral contraceptives.

The plant is propagated by seeds.