Ppolo or Nelson's horsenettleSolanaceae (Nightshade family)Endemic to the Hawaiian IslandsStatus: VulnerableOahu (Cultivated); Midway Island formEtymologyThe Latin generic name Solanum is derived from solor or solatus, comforter, for some plants in this genus that were used medically, specifically Solanum nigrum, once used to treat epilepsy.The specific epithet, nelsonii, is named on behalf of David Nelson, a botanist who traveled with Captain Cook on his third voyage of discovery in 1779 and collected more than 130 plant specimens from Mauna Loa, Hawaii Island.nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Solanum_nelsonii