Answer:Both purple eggplant and white eggplant are the same species: Solanum melongena. The difference between them is simply in the color of their skin. The purple eggplant is the most common variety, but white eggplant is also widely grown in some regions. They have similar flavor and texture, with the white eggplant sometimes being slightly milder. So, both are Solanum melongena - just different varieties with different skin colors.