S. melongena binomial = Solanum melongena binomial_authority = L. (Carolus Linnaeus) synonyms = Solanum ovigerum Dunal Solanum trongum Poir. and see text (#Synonyms)

The eggplant, aubergine, melongene or brinjal (Solanum melongena) is a plant of the family Solanaceae (also known as the nightshades) and genus Solanum. It bears a fruit of the same name, commonly used as a vegetable in cooking. As a nightshade, it is closely related to the tomato and potato and is native to Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

It is a delicate perennial (perennial plant) often cultivated as an annual (annual plant). It grows 40 to 150 cm (16 to 57 in) tall, with large coarsely lobed leaves (leaf) that are 10 to 20 cm (4-8 in) long and 5 to 10 cm (2-4 in) broad. (Semi-)wild types can grow much larger, to 225 cm (7 ft) with large leaves over 30 cm (12 in) long and 15 cm (6 in) broad. The stem is often spiny (spine (botany)). The flowers are white to purple, with a five-lobed corolla (Corolla (flower)) and yellow stamens. The fruit is fleshy, less than convert3cm in diameter on wild plants, but much larger in cultivated forms.

The fruit is botanically classified as a berry, and contains numerous small, soft seeds, which are edible, but are bitter because they contain nicotinoid (nicotine) alkaloids, unsurprising as it is a close relative of tobacco.