Solanaceae

Plant Sex: Flowers bisexual.

Flowers: Actinomorphic or weakly zygomorphic. Often rotate, campanulate, or funnelform. Stamens adnate to corolla tube.

Inflorescence: Cymes.

Fruits: Capsules and berries.

Habit: Mostly herbaceous annuals and perennials, some becoming somewhat "woody" with age.

Leaves: Alternate, simple or variously lobed, no stipules.

Examples:
Solanum

S. lycopersicum (tomato). Inflorescence. Flower L.S. Fruits.
S. cheesmannii. Flowering shoot. Anther X.S.
S. tuberosum (potato). Flowering plant. Flower. Etiolated shoots arising from tuber.
S. melongena (eggplant). Flowering plant. Flowers. Fruiting plant. Fruits.
S. dulcamara (bitter nightshade). Fruiting plant.
S. carolinense (horse nettle). Flowers.
S. rostratum. A very spiny plant!

Capsicum

C. annuum ( bell pepper). Plant with flowers and fruit. Pepper fruit sectioned.
C. frutescens Fruit variation in this chili pepper.

Nicotiana

N. tabacum (tobacco). Flowering shoot. Fruits.
N. rustica growing next to N. tabacum.
N. hybrids grown as ornamentals.

Datura

D. stramoneum (jimson weed). Flowering plant. Flowers. Young fruit.

Atropa

A. belladonna (belladonna, atropine). Flowering shoot.

Brugmansia

B. hybrid (angel's trumpet). Flowering shoot.

Petunia

P. X hybrida (petunia). Flowering plant. Flower L.S. Flower L.S. basal part. Ovary X.S.

Physalis

P. virginiana. Plant in flower. Flower L.S.
P. angulata (ground cherry, chinese lantern). Flowering shoot. Fruit and in L.S.
P. ixocarpa (tomatillo, husk tomato). Flowering plant. Fruits. Fruits sectioned.

SIUC / College of Science / Elements of Plant Systematics
URL: http://www.plantbiology.siu.edu/PLB304/Lecture21Solan/Solanaceae.html
Last updated: 25-Mar-08 / dln