Spermatophyta: Dicotyledonae: Metachlamydeae: Solanales

Solanaceae - Potato family

Gonçalves, A.E. (2005) Solanaceae Flora Zambesiaca 8(4)

Description of the family

Herbs, shrubs or rarely trees. Stipules 0 (but pseudostipules are present in Solanum mauritianum). Leaves alternate, or occasionally fasciculate. Flowers bisexual, hypogynous, actinomorphic or slightly zygomorphic, solitary or in cymes, clusters or racemes. Calyx (3-)5(-6)-lobed, often persistent and accrescent. Corolla gamopetalous with 5 (or more) lobes. Stamens inserted on corolla-tube. Disk usually present. Ovary superior, usually 2-locular; ovules numerous. Fruit a capsule or berry.

Worldwide: 94 genera and 2,950 species, ± cosmopolitan, but especially South America.

Zimbabwe: 16 cultivated genera and 50 cultivated taxa.

Links to cultivated genera: View: living plant images - herbarium specimen images - all images for this family

Genus	Content
Browallia L.	Description
Brugmansia Pers.	Description
Brunfelsia L.	Description
Capsicum L.	Description, Image
Cestrum L.	Description, Image
Datura L.	Description, Image
Fabiana Ruiz & Pav.
Iochroma Benth.	Description, Image
Lycianthes (Dunal) Hassl.	Image
Nicotiana L.	Description, Image
Nierembergia Ruiz. & Pav.	Description
Petunia Juss.	Description
Physalis L.	Description, Image
Solandra Sw.	Description
Solanum L.	Description, Image
Streptosolen Miers	Description

Other sources of information about Solanaceae:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Solanaceae
Flora of Burundi: Solanaceae
Flora of Caprivi: Solanaceae
Flora of Caprivi: cultivated Solanaceae
Flora of the DRC: Solanaceae
Flora of Malawi: Solanaceae
Flora of Malawi: cultivated Solanaceae
Flora of Mozambique: Solanaceae
Flora of Mozambique: cultivated Solanaceae
Flora of Rwanda: Solanaceae
Flora of Zambia: Solanaceae
Flora of Zambia: cultivated Solanaceae
Flora of Zimbabwe: Solanaceae

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Solanaceae
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Solanaceae
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Solanaceae
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Solanaceae
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Solanaceae
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Solanaceae
JSTOR Plant Science: Solanaceae
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Solanaceae
Wikipedia: Solanaceae
Plants of the World Online: Solanaceae
Tropicos: Solanaceae