Potato family (Solanaceae)

Characteristics of potato family plants

Potato
Potato (Solanum tuberosum L) is a Solanaceae that produces potatoes

The Potato family (Nightshade family) – Solanaceae – comprises about 2500 species of plants spread all over the world but mainly in tropical America.

They are herbs, trees and shrubs.

Many of these species are very important for mankind because of their value as food (Potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, etc.,), because of their alkaloid properties (tobacco, deadly nightshade, Thorn-apple, henbane, mandrake, etc.) and as garden plants.

potato familyDatura meteloides

Leaves (1): alternate, undivided or slightly lobed, without stipules.
Stems (2): upright or low-growing, many climbing.
Flowers:

bearing radial symmetry, generally bell-shaped or cup- shaped; solitary or in cymes.

Calyx (3): 5 sepals

Corolla (4): 5 petals.

Stamens: 5

Ovary: superior with 2 carpels.

potato family

Capsule of “Datura stramonium L.”

Style: 1

Fruit (5): capsule or berry.

Genera

The most important ones are the following:

ATROPA

CAPSICUM

CESTRUM

DATURA

HYOSCYAMUS

LYCIUM

LYCOPERSICON

MANDRAGORA

NICOTIANA

PHYSALIS

SALPICHROA

SOLANUM (Solanum nigrum) Solanum tuberosum)

TRIGUERA

WITHANIA

BACK TO FAMILIES

punto rojo More information on plants

This article was endorsed by Julián Masats - Technical agricultural engineer specialized in horticulture and gardening.
Editorial
Written by Editorial Botanical-online team in charge of content writing

4 August, 2022

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