Solanum is a large and diverse genus of flowering plants, which include two food crops of the highest economic importance, the potato and the tomato. It also contains the nightshades and horsenettles, as well as numerous plants cultivated for their ornamental flowers and fruit. Solanum species show a wide range of growing habits, such as annual and perennials, vines, subshrubs, shrubs, and small trees. Many formerly independent genera like Lycopersicon (the tomatoes) and Cyphomandra are now included in Solanum as subgenera or sections. Thus, the genus today contains roughly 1,500-2,000 species.

Solanum burchellii commonly known as Lemoenbossie, Slangappel, Slangappeltjie and Tandpynbos is a South African indigenous species from the Northern Cape and North West Provinces. It is synonymously known as Solanum rangei, Solanum schaeferi and Solanum tomentosum var. burchellii. Solanum burchellii grows into a spiny shrub of up to 50 cm tall with yellow-green hairy leaves that have spines on the mid-ribs. From autumn to spring it bears purple flowers which are followed by bright orange 1cm fruits.