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 1500 to 2000 species.

Solanum campylacanthum, previously known as Solanum delagoense, Solanum omahekense, Solanum omitiomirense or Solanum panduriforme and commonly known as Apple Of Sodom, Poison Apple or Bitter Apple in English and Bitterappel, Bitterappeltjie, Geelappel, Gifappel or Gifappeltjie in Afrikaans, is a South African indigenous Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West and Western Cape provinces. The species is very common and is widespread in grasslands, savannas, and woodlands. It can be found in eastern, central and southern Africa. The fruit of this species are poisonous, but they have been used in traditional medicine. From spring to summer appear the eye-catching purple flowers.