Eggplant
Eggplant, an herb related to the potato. Its fruit is eaten fried and in vegetable stews and casseroles. The fruit, which may be up to one foot (30 cm) long, is purplish-black, creamy white, yellow, or brown. It is commonly round or egg-shaped, although oval, oblong, and pear-shaped varieties are also grown. The plant grows to a height of six feet (1.8 m). It bears large, hairy leaves and lavender flowers with yellow centers. The plant, which is native to India, thrives in well-drained soil in tropical and warm temperate regions.
Eggplant is Solanum melongena of the nightshade family, Solanaceae.