Solanaceae

Systematic Position

Class -Dicotyledonae

Sub-class-Gamopetalae

Series-Bicarpellatae

Order-Polemoniales

Family-Solanaceae

It is a large family, commonly called ‘potato family’ with 90 genera, and 2000 species including 60 from India. Plants mostly herbs, rarely shrubs and trees.

Inflorescence : Umbellate or helicoid cyme (Solanum)

(1) Sepals five, gamosepalous persistent, green or coloured, hairy

(2) Petals five, gamopetalous tubular or infundibuliform.

(3) Stamens five, polyandrous epipetalous.

(4) Bicarpellary, syncarpous, ovary superior, bilocular with axile placentation.

(5) Ovary obliquely placed, placenta swollen, many ovules in each locule.

(6) Fruit is berry or capsule.

F.F.  K(5)

Economic Importance :

Belladona (Atropa belladonna) contains atropine alkaloid and used in eye testing and plaster. Nicotine obtained from tobacco is used as an insecticide. The seeds of Datura, henbane (Hyoscyamus niger), bittersweet, kateli (Solanum xanthocarpum) and roots of ashwagandh (Withania somnifera) are used medicinally. Tobacco used in bidi, cigarettes, and for chewing is obtained from Nicotina tobacum.

Important plants :

(1) Solanum tuberosum (Potato).

(2) Solanum melongena (Brinjal).

(3) Solanum nigrum (Makoi)

(4) Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha).

(5) Lycopersicum esculentum (Tomato).

(6) Capsicum frutescens (Chilli).

(7) Capsicum annuum (Bell Pepper)

(8) Cestrum diurnum (Day jasmine)

(9) Cestrum nocturnum (Night jasmine).

(10) Brunfelsia hopeana (Yesterday-today-tomorrow)

(11) Datura alba (Datura).

(12) Petunia auxillaris (Petunia).

(13) Atropa belladona (Belladona)

(14) Hyoscyamus niger (Henbane, Khurasani ajwain)

(15) Physalis peruviana (Raspberry)

(16) Nicotiana tobacum (Tobacco)

(17) Solanum xanthocarpum