Jerusalem Cherry, a name given to two species of solanum which are cultivated for the ornamental character of their fruit. The oldest and best known of these is 8. pseudo-capsicum, which was introduced into England from Madeira in 1596; it is a half shrubby house plant, and when properly treated has a handsome rounded head upon a stalk 1 or 2 ft. high; it has lance-oblong leaves and white flowers; the small and inconspicuous flowers are succeeded by bright red berries about the size of cherries, which are borne in great profusion and render the plant very ornamental. It is usually raised from seeds, but may be grown from cuttings; if the seeds are sown in early spring and the plants kept growing rapidly, they will produce fruit the following winter. It is supposed that the name Jerusalem was applied to this,.as it formerly was to other plants, more to indicate its foreign origin than with reference to the country from which it came. The dwarf Jerusalem cherry is S. cap-sicastrum, which is only about half as tall as the other, and its berries are more orange than scarlet; there is a form of this with variegated leaves. In England these plants are raised in large quantities for Christmas and table decorations.

An improved sort called S. hybri-dum-compactum, very popular for table decoration, is depicted above.

Jerusalem Cherry.