Floral Formula of Solanaceae, Examples and Features

Floral Formula of Solanaceae: The Solanaceae family, commonly known as the nightshade or potato family, includes a variety of flowering plants. This family is referred to as the nightshade family because many of its plants contain toxic alkaloids, and some species grow in shaded areas and bloom at night.

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What is the Floral Formula of Solanaceae?

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Symbol Representation of Floral Formula of Solanaceae

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Distribution of Solanaceae Family

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Habit and Habitat of Solanaceae Family

• Growth Forms : This family comprises annual and perennial herbs, shrubs, and climbers.
• Stem : The stems can be erect, herbaceous, solid or hollow, cylindrical, branched, smooth, or slightly hairy.
• Root System : Typically, these plants have a main tap root with additional lateral branches.

• Distribution : Members of the Solanaceae family are found worldwide, from tropical rainforests to temperate woodlands, grasslands, and deserts.
• Environmental Adaptations : They can grow in various environments, including terrestrial, mesophyte, wild, and cultivated areas.

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Systematic Position of the Floral Formula of Solanaceae

Features Of the Solanaceae Family

• Usually bisexual and actinomorphic (radially symmetrical).
• Five fused sepals and five fused petals.
• Five stamens are often attached to the corolla.
• Superior ovary with two fused carpels.

Economic Importance of Solanaceae Family

1. Vegetables: Plants from this family, including tomatoes, potatoes, capsicums, and eggplants, are widely consumed as vegetables. For instance, the fruits of Solanum melongena (eggplant), Capsicum annuum (capsicum), Lycopersicum esculentum (tomato), and the stem tuber of Solanum tuberosum (potato) are popular vegetables globally.
2. Food: Members of the Solanaceae family serve as essential food sources. Potatoes, tomatoes, and brinjals (eggplants) are significant vegetables. Additionally, Physalis manima (sun berry) and Physalis peruviana (Cape gooseberry) are cultivated for their sweet, edible berries.
3. Medicines: Several Solanaceae plants have medicinal properties used to treat various disorders. For example, the dried leaves stems, and roots of Atropa belladonna produce atropine, a compound used to relieve pain. Similarly, the dried leaves and roots of Datura metel are utilized in asthma treatment.
4. Narcotics: Certain Solanaceae plants, like Nicotiana tabacum and Nicotiana rustica , produce nicotine used in tobacco and cigarettes. The poisonous alkaloid stamina, found in Datura stramonium , makes its seeds and leaves narcotic, occasionally used for criminal poisoning.
5. Condiments: The fruits of Capsicum species are commonly used as condiments, adding flavor and spice to various dishes.
6. Ornamental Purpose: Many Solanaceae plants are cultivated for ornamental purposes, enhancing home and garden aesthetics. Examples include Petunia nyctaginifolia , Cestrum diurnum , Cestrum nocturnum , and Cestrum elegans , which are popular garden plants.
7. Other Uses: Solanaceae plants also contribute to industrial products such as ethanol, syrup, and dextrin. For example, Nicotiana tabacum is used in pesticides and insecticides, and some plants in this family are used in paints and varnishes.

Identifying Characteristics of the Solanaceae Family

• Simple and alternate in the vegetative parts
• Opposite near the inflorescence
• Exstipulate (without stipules)
• Reticulate (net-like veins)

• Cymose type, typically axillary or extra-axillary
• Sometimes solitary or axillary

• Ebracteate (without bracts)
• Actinomorphic (radially symmetrical)
• Complete (having all floral parts)
• Bisexual (having both male and female organs)
• Pentamerous (floral parts in fives)
• Hypogynous (ovary is above other flower parts)

• Consists of five sepals
• Gamosepalous (sepals united)
• Persistent and often enlarged in fruit

• Consists of five petals
• Gamopetalous (petals united)
• Various shapes with twisted or valvate aestivation (arrangement of petals in bud)

• Consists of five stamens
• Polyandrous (stamens free)
• Epipetalous (stamens attached to petals)
• Alternate to petals
• Anthers are dithecous (two-lobed), basifixed (attached at the base), and introrse (opening towards the center)

• Bicarpellary (two carpels)
• Syncarpous (carpels united)
• Bilocular (two chambers) with many ovules on a swollen placenta
• Axile placentation (placenta in the center with ovules attached)
• Ovary obliquely tilted
• Style long
• Stigma bilobed or capitate (rounded)

• A berry or a capsule

• Endospermic (containing endosperm)

Some common plants of the Solanaceae Family