Green Valley Roman Eggplant (Solanum melongena) is in the nightshade family (Solanaceae). It’s an annual plant with white or purple star-shaped flowers, usually rather large leaves, paddle-shaped and often coarsely lobed. Its fruit is botanically a berry and contains numerous small seeds surrounded by spongy white flesh. It’s usually considered a vegetable, since it is savory rather than sweet, and is served cooked.