Solanaceae:

the Nightshade
family
Classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Class: Dicotyledonae
Subclass: Gamopetalae
Series: Bicarpellatae
Order: Polymoniales
Family: Solanaceae
General Information
Genera: about 95
Species: over 2000
Distribution: temperate and
tropical; greatest diversity found
in Central and South America
Habit:
Herbs
Shrubs
Trees
Lianas (woody vines)
Leaves:
Pinnately veined
Alternate
Simple
Exstipulate
Often hairy
Inflorescences:
Solitary or cymose

Flowers:
Bisexual
Usually actinomorphic
Superior ovary
Axile placentation
Usually have 5 petals, 5 sepals,
5 stamens, 2 carpels, 2 locules
Petals and sepals are often
united
Fruit:
Berry
Capsule
Major Genera in Solanaceae
Atropa Lycopersicon
Browallia Mandragora
Brugmansia Nicotiana
Calibrachoa Petunia
Capsicum Physalis
Datura Salpiglossis
Hyoscyamus Schizanthus
Lycium Solanum
Atropa belladonna
Deadly nightshade
Browallia spp.
Bush violet
Brugmansia spp.
Angel’s Trumpet
Calibrachoa spp.
Capsicum annuum
Pepper (bell and hot)
Capsicum frutescens
Bird pepper
Datura spp.
Datura
Hyoscyamus niger
Henbane
Lycium spp.
Box thorn, matrimony vine
Lycopersicon esculentum
Tomato
Mandragora officinarum
Mandrake
Nicotiana alata
Ornamental Tobacco
Nicotiana tabacum
Tobacco
Petunia xhybrida
Petunia
Physalis alkekengi
Chinese Lantern
Physalis ixocarpa
Tomatillo
Physalis peruviana
Cape gooseberry
Salpiglossis spp.
Painted tongue flower
Schizanthus
xwisetonensis
Butterfly flower
Solanum dulcamara
Bittersweet nightshade
Solanum melongena
Eggplant
Solanum nigrum
Black nightshade
Solanum pseudocapsicum
Jerusalem cherry
Solanum tuberosum
Potato