and why are there so many English names for the fruit? Eggplant, or Solanum melongena, got its name from a variety of the plant that -- unlike its prized, purple counterpart -- is white in color ...

Eggplants (Solanum melongena) are delightfully versatile ... eggplant is an heirloom variety that produces large, dark purple fruit, perfect for grilled eggplant steaks or eggplant parmesan.