Feature of solanaceae family
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Solanaceae family features floral formula botany
This is a botany question, not a medical/clinical query, so the medical library skill does not apply. Here is a thorough breakdown of the Solanaceae family:
Solanaceae Family (Nightshade / Potato Family)
Overview
- About 102 genera and ~2500-3000 species of flowering plants (angiosperms)
- Commonly called the nightshade family or potato family
- Distributed worldwide, mostly in tropical and temperate zones
- Largest genus: Solanum (~1700 species)
Vegetative Characters
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Habit | Herbs, shrubs, small trees, rarely climbers |
| Root | Tap root system; potato (Solanum tuberosum) has tuberous roots/underground stems |
| Stem | Erect or climbing, often with glandular hairs; may be herbaceous or woody; stem modifications like tubers (potato) |
| Leaves | Simple, alternate, exstipulate, petiolate; sometimes pinnately compound (e.g., tomato); hairy surface common |
Floral Characters
General description: Flowers are complete, pedicellate, bracteate or ebracteate, actinomorphic (regular), bisexual, pentamerous, hypogynous
Floral Formula
⊕ Br K(5) C(5) A5 G(2)
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ⊕ | Actinomorphic (radially symmetrical) |
| Br | Bracteate |
| K(5) | Calyx - 5 sepals, gamosepalous (fused), persistent |
| C(5) | Corolla - 5 petals, gamopetalous, valvate or imbricate aestivation |
| A5 | 5 stamens, epipetalous (attached to petals), alternipetalous |
| G(2) | Bicarpellary, syncarpous, superior ovary, axile placentation |
Part-by-Part Description
Calyx:
- 5 sepals, fused (gamosepalous)
- Persistent - remains attached even after fruit development (seen clearly in tomato and brinjal)
Corolla:
- 5 petals, gamopetalous
- Shape varies: rotate (wheel-like in Solanum), tubular, funnel-shaped, or bell-shaped
- Aestivation: valvate or imbricate
Androecium:
- 5 stamens, epipetalous (inserted on petals)
- Anthers are dithecous (two-chambered), often form a cone around the style (as in tomato - poricidal dehiscence by pores)
Gynoecium:
- Bicarpellary, syncarpous (2 carpels fused)
- Superior ovary
- Axile placentation with many ovules
- Style simple; stigma capitate or bilobed
- Obliquely placed relative to the floral axis (diagnostic feature)
Fruit
- Berry - e.g., tomato (Lycopersicon), brinjal/eggplant (Solanum melongena), chilli (Capsicum)
- Capsule - e.g., datura (Datura stramonium), petunia
Seed
- Endospermic (albuminous), with curved embryo
Economic Importance
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Food/Vegetables | Potato (Solanum tuberosum), tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum), brinjal, capsicum/chilli |
| Medicinal | Belladonna (Atropa belladonna) - atropine; Datura - scopolamine; Withania somnifera (ashwagandha) |
| Ornamentals | Petunia, Nicandra |
| Tobacco | Nicotiana tabacum - source of nicotine |
| Narcotics/Toxins | Many species contain toxic tropane alkaloids (atropine, scopolamine, solanine, nicotine) |
Diagnostic/Key Features (for identification)
- Gamosepalous, persistent calyx with 5 fused sepals
- Gamopetalous corolla with 5 petals - rotate or funnel-shaped
- Epipetalous stamens (5), often forming an anther cone
- Obliquely placed bicarpellary, syncarpous superior ovary with axile placentation
- Berry or capsule as fruit
- Presence of alkaloids (solanine, nicotine, atropine, etc.)
- Often glandular hairy stems and leaves
Common Examples
- Solanum tuberosum - Potato
- Solanum melongena - Brinjal (eggplant)
- Lycopersicon esculentum - Tomato
- Capsicum annuum - Chilli/Bell pepper
- Nicotiana tabacum - Tobacco
- Atropa belladonna - Deadly nightshade
- Datura stramonium - Thorn apple
- Petunia hybrida - Petunia (ornamental)
- Withania somnifera - Ashwagandha
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