The publication (
Solanum insanum L. (subgenus Leptostemonum Bitter, Solanaceae), the neglected wild progenitor of eggplant (S. melongena L.): a review of taxonomy, characteristics and uses aimed at its enhancement for improved eggplant breeding- Published: 22 November 2016- R. H. G. Ranil, J. Prohens, X. Aubriot, H. M. L. Niran, M. Plazas, R. M. Fonseka, S. Vilanova, H. H. Fonseka, P. Gramazio & S. Knapp) says
Solanum insanum is morphologically similar to the mostly African species S. incanum (distributed from northern Africa to Pakistan, see Vorontsova and Knapp 2016), but can be distinguished from it in its sparser pubescence, less robust and usually straighter prickles, larger flowers, and distribution in Asia (see Table 1; Vorontsova and Knapp 2016).