SOLANACEAE
Morphological description
Usually woody.
Leaves
Leaves simple, entire (sometimes deeply divided), spiral, penninerved, exstipulate.
Inflorescence
Inflorescence.
Flowers
Flowers corolla gamopetalous; ovary superior. Flowers usually 5-merous, actinomorphic, ovary 2-celled, ovules numerous.
Fruit
Fruit usually a many-seeded berry.
Seed
Seed.
Different from: Boraginaceae: ovules 1 per cell, style mostly gynobasic, fruit not a berry.
Distribution: Worldwide, best represented in the Neotropics; in Malesia 2 native genera, several introduced. - Solanum (incl. Lycianthes, worldwide), herbs, shrubs, epiphytes, scramblers, open places; forest, lowland and montane.
Notes: Several species useful for man. - Edible fruit: Cyphomandra*, Lycopersicon*, Physalis*, Solanum. - Vegetables: Lycium*, Solanum. - Spice: Capsicum*. - Tubers: Solanum tuberosum*. - Medicinal use: Datura*, Solanum. - Tobacco: Nicotiana*. - Ornamentals: Brugmansia*, Brunfelsia*, Cestrum*, Solanum.
Literature: C.A. Backer & R.C. Bakhuizen van den Brink, Fl. Java 2 (1965) 464- 483; D.E. Symon, The Solanaceae of New Guinea, J. Adel. Bot. Gard. 8 (1985) 1-171. - Mr. D.E. Symon (Adelaide) is revising the family for Flora Malesiana.
Spot characters (Van Balgooy): Solanaceae 58, 86 - Lycium chinense 12 - Solanum 4, 12, 47, 70, 72, 74.
Illustrations: Fig. 165. Solanum torvum Sw. (Solanaceae). Reproduced from C.A. Backer & D.F. van Slooten, Geillustreerd Handboek der Javaansche Theeonkruiden (1924) 196.
Image in PhytoImages for Solanaceae