Characteristics of potato family plants
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.
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| 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. | |
Capsule of “Datura stramonium L.” | |
| Style: 1 Fruit (5): capsule or berry. |
Datura meteloides
Genera
The most important ones are the following:
| ATROPA CAPSICUM CESTRUM LYCIUM LYCOPERSICON | MANDRAGORA PHYSALIS SALPICHROA SOLANUM (Solanum nigrum) Solanum tuberosum) TRIGUERA WITHANIA |
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