Solanum muricatum (Introduced)

Solanum muricatum Aiton, Hort. Kew. 1: 250–251 1789. (Syn: Solanum guatemalense Hort., Bitter; Solanum hebephorum Dunal; Solanum muricatum f. glaberrimum Correll; Solanum muricatum var. muricatum ; Solanum muricatum var. papillosistylum Bitter; Solanum muricatum var. praecedens Bitter; Solanum muricatum var. protogenum Bitter; Solanum muricatum var. teleutogenum Bitter; Solanum saccianum Carrière & André; Solanum variegatum Ruiz & Pav.; Solanum wallisii Carrière);
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Colombia to Peru: Colombia, Ecuador, Peru as per POWO;
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Common name: Melon Pear, Pepino dulce, Sweet cucumber

It is known as pepino dulce (“sweet pepino” in English, in order to differentiate it from cucumber which is also called “pepino” in Spanish) or simply pepino; the latter is also used for similar species such as “S. mucronatum“ (which actually seems to belong in the related genus Lycianthes). The pepino dulce fruit resembles a melon (Cucumis melo) in color, and its flavor recalls a succulent mixture of honeydew and cucumber, and thus it is also sometimes called pepino melon or melon pear, but pepinos are only very distantly related to melons and pears. Another common name, “tree melon”, is more often used for the Papaya (Carica papaya) though the pepino dulce plant generally does not look much like a tree. The present species is, however, a close relative of other nightshades cultivated for their fruit, including the tomato (S. lycopersicum) and the eggplant (S. melongena), which its own fruit closely resembles.

The fruit is common in markets in Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru and Chile, but less often overseas because it is quite sensitive to handling and does not travel well. Attempts to produce commercial cultivars and to export the fruit have been made in New Zealand, Turkey, Mauritius and Chile.^[1]

(From Wikipedia on 18.8.14)
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Pepino Dulce of Solanaceae.RT 1 : 2 posts by 2 authors. Attachments (1).

Photographed from a Muvattupuzha; Kerala sometime back.
Introduced from L.America.
Pepino Dulce or Sweet Pepino; Solanum muricatum-Fruit & plant have some resemblance to Tomato- it’s other edible cousin of Solanaceae.

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Solanaceae fortnight: Requesting for Id: Garden plant with edible fruits from Idukki, Kerala: 220215 SS-2 Feb : 3 posts by 3 authors. Attachments (14)

Looks like a pepino to me.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solanum_muricatum

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Interesting upload
Thanks for sharing

Pepino melon that is not a melon-Solanum muricatum from California-GSJULY2016/08 : 2 posts by 2 authors. Attachments (1)

Solanum muricatum AT JAN 2017/07 : 3 posts by 2 authors. Attachments (4)

Solanum muricatum
Pepino dulce,  Pepino melon or Melon pear
Cultivated fruit
Hamirpur (H.P.)
August and January

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Got one more photograph clicked a few years back at Shimla. Attachments (1)

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Solanum muricatum Ait. : 5 posts by 3 authors. Attachments (6)- around 800 kb each.

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Very beautiful images … One of the file is not fully visible, some issues with transfer..?

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Yes I also see the same issue with 3rd image.

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Attachments (1)

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Solanum muricatum AT/APL 2018/13 : 4 posts by 2 authors. Attachments (1)

Pepino Dulce, Pepino Melon or Melon Pear
Binomial name: Solanum muricatum
Use: Melon-flavoured tomato-like fruits
Origin: Temperate Andean regions of Colombia, Peru and Chile.
Hamirpur (H.P.)
December 2017

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Actually, I had selected a wrong background for taking photographs and light was also not adjusted on camera. So, it is a poor click.

Attachments (1)

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Solanum muricatum AT/MAY/2020/ : 3 posts by 2 authors.
http://anilkthakur.blogspot.com/2020/05/pepino.html?m=1

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Any other synonym for this plant sir? because its hard to find out in older publications even in Flora Simliansis and FBI.

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The species was described in 1896 from Eastern Himalayas, so not expected from FBI or Fl. Simlensis. Any Flora from NE Himalayas should help.

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Perhaps if original description can be found, it may help in confirmation.

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Solanum muricatum, Pepino plant from California-GS12032023-2: 5 very high res. images.
I was lucky to find and click the Pepino plant, fruits look like small striped brinjal, botanically Solanum muricatum Aiton , often known as Pepino dulce or Sweet cucumber. It is native of Peru, but widely cultivated for its fruits, which are eaten fresh.
Photographed from Fremont, California.

Yes, as per images at
https://efloraofindia.com/2014/08/18/solanum-muricatum/

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References:
POWO  Catalogue of Life  The Plant List Ver.1.1  Tropicos  GRIN  Wikipedia  PFAF  Flowers of India  Flora of Peninsular India