652 Plant Systematics

3. Tetrachondraceae (B)
Subclass 11. Lamiidae 4. Plocospermataceae (B)
Superorder 1. Solananae 5. Gratiolaceae (B)
6. Calceolariaceae (B)
Order 1. Garryales (B)
7. Gesneriaceae
Family 1. Garryaceae
8. Plantaginaceae (B)
2. Eucommiaceae
9. Pedaliaceae
3. Aucubaceae
10. Linderniaceae
4. Oncothecaceae (B)
11. Byblidaceae
5. Icacinaceae (B)
12. Lamiaceae (B)
2. Solanales 13. Paulowniaceae (B)
Suborder 1. Solanineae 14. Orobanchaceae (B)
1. Solanaceae 15. Phrymaceae
2. Convolvulaceae 16. Nesogenaceae (B)
3. Hydroleaceae (B) 17. Schlegeliaceae (B)
4. Sphenocleaceae 18. Verbenaceae (B)
5. Montiniaceae (B) 19. Martyniaceae
2. Boraginineae 20. Petraeaceae (B)
1. Boraginaceae 21. Trapellaceae (B)
2. Hydrophyllaceae 22. Bignoniaceae
3. Lennoaceae 23. Lentibulariaceae
4. Hoplestigmataceae (B) 24. Acanthaceae
Superorder 2. Lamianae 25. Stilbaceae
Order 1. Rubiales 26. Scrophulariaceae
l. Gentianaceae
2. Loganiaceae Taxa Incertae Sedis
3. Gelsemiaceae Haptanthus Goldberg & Nelson (1). Hondu-
4. Rubiaceae ras.
5. Apocynaceae Heteranthia Nesse & C.Mart. (1) Brazil.
*Pottingeria Prain (1)
2. Lamiales
Pteleocarpa Oliver (1) W. Malesia.
1. Oleaceae
2. Carlemanniaceae (B) * Under Hydrangeales-> Pottingeriaceae
by Takhtajan

Solanaceae A. L. de Jussieu Nightshade or Potato family

98 genera, 2,715 species
Cosmopolitan in distribution, found both in temperate and tropical cli-
mates with largest concentration in Central and South America.

Placement:
B & H Cronquist Takhtajan Dahlgren Thorne APG II / (APweb)

Division Magnoliophyta Magnoliophyta

Class Dicotyledons Magnoliopsida Magnoliopsida Magnoliopsida Magnolipsida
Subclass Gamopetalae Asteridae Lamiidae Magnoliidae Lamiidae
Series+/Superorder Bicarpellatae+ Solananae Solananae Solananae Euasterids I*
Order Polemoniales Solanales Solanales Solanales Solanales Solanales
 Major Families of Angiosperms 653

Figure 13.128 Solanaceae. Solanum nigrum. A: Branch with extra-axillary rhipidium infloresences
and fruits; B: Vertical section of flower. Withania somnifera. C: Branch with axillary
cymose clusters of flowers; D: Flower; E: Vertical section of flower with bell-shaped
corolla; F: Fruit enclosed in enlarged urceolate calyx. Datura inoxia. G: Branch with
axillary funnel-shaped flowers; H: Transverse section of ovary, tetralocular due to
false septum; I: Capsule covered with tubercles and basal persistent portion of
calyx. Physalis minima. J: Portion of plant with flowers; K: Flower; L: Vertical sec-
tion of flower; M: Transverse section of ovary with swollen placentae; N: Fruit with
inflated calyx removed from one side; O: Seed; P: Flowering branch of Atropa
belladona.

Salient features: Leaves alternate, stipules (110), Physalis (95), Lycium (90), Capsicum
absent, flowers actinomorphic, stamens 5, (50), Hyoscyamus (25) and Datura (10).
carpels 2, ovary superior, 2-chambered, pla-
centa swollen, septum oblique, ovules nu- Description: Herbs, shrubs (Brunfelsia,
merous, fruit a berry or capsule. Cestrum) or small trees (Solanum verbasci-
folia; Dunalia), rarely lianas, often poison-
Major genera: Solanum (1350 species), ous, sometimes with prickles, underground
Lycianthus (190), Cestrum (160), Nicotiana tubers in Solanum tuberosum (potato),
654 Plant Systematics

vascular bundles with both outer and inner ated in vascular bundles having outer and
phloem. Leaves alternate, simple, rarely inner phloem, actinomorphic flowers and ob-
pinnately compound (potato), stipules absent, lique septum of the ovary. Schizanthus with
paired leaves adjacent on the stem are com- zygomorphic flowers is borderline genus. The
mon. Inflorescence cymose (Solanum) or of family also has close affinities with Convol-
solitary flowers (Datura). Flowers bisexual, vulaceae, Boraginaceae and Gesneriaceae.
actinomorphic, hypogynous. Calyx with 5 Nolanaceae with gynobasic style and lobed
sepals, united, persistent, sometimes en- ovary has been merged with Solanaceae. The
larged and swollen in fruit (Withania, Physa- following 7 subfamilies are recognized
lis). Corolla with 5 petals, united, rotate (Olmstead et al., 1999; APweb, 2003):
(Solanum) or tubular (Cestrum), rarely funnel Schwenckioideae (pericycle fibres present,
shaped (Datura) or bilabiate (Schizanthus). stamens 4, didynamous, or 3 staminodes;
Androecium with 5 stamens epipetalous, embryo straight, short), Schizanthoideae
inserted in corolla tube, filaments free, (pericycle fibres absent, flowers zygomorphic,
bithecous, anthers introrse, dehiscence lon- anterior petals connate, forming a keel, sta-
gitudinal or by apical pores. Gynoecium with mens 2, staminodes 3, embryo curved),
2 carpels, rarely 3-5 (Nicandra), united, ovary Goetzeoideae (Fruit often a drupe, embryo
superior, bilocular, axile placentation, pla- curved: Takhtajan as family Goetzeaceae),
centa swollen, septum oblique, ovary often Cestroideae (pericyclic fibres present, sta-
further divided by false septa, style 1, rarely mens 4 or 5, often didynamous), Petunioideae
gynobasic (Nolana), stigma bilobed, ovary (flowers bisymmetric, embryo slightly curved),
seated on a nectary. Fruit berry or capsule Solanoideae (seeds flattened, embryo curved,
(Datura); seeds many, embryo straight, often coiled), and Nicotianoideae (Cork su-
endosperm present. Pollination mostly by perficial pericyclic fibres present or absent,
insects. Dispersal mostly by birds. stamens 4 or 5, of two lengths, embryo
straight or curved). The grouping (Petunioi-
Economic importance: The family includes deae (Solanoideae + Nicotianoideae)) is well
a number of food plants such as tomato supported, although the relationships be-
(Lycopersicon esculentum), potato (Solanum tween the more basal branches have only
tuberosum), egg plant or brinjal (S. weak support, but Schwenkia is probably sis-
melongena), ground cherry (Physalis peruvi- ter to the rest of the family (Olmstead et al.,
ana). Peppers (Capsicum annuum) are used 1999). Family Sclerophylacaceae has been
both as a food source (young) and spices variously included under Solanaceae
(ripe). Many poisonous species are impor- (Hutchinson, Cronquist, APG II), treated as
tant drug plants such as Atropa belladona distinct family (Takhtajan, Dahlgren), or con-
(atropine), Hyoscyamus niger (henbane-hyp- sidered unplaced (APweb) has been treated
notic drug), Datura stramonium (stramonium) as subfamily Sclerophylacoideae of
and Mandragora officinarum (mandrake). To- Solanaceae by Thorne (2003), who recognizes
bacco (Nicotiana tabacum and N. rustica) con- Browallioideae, Solanoideae and Goetzeoi-
tains toxic alkaloid nicotine and is grown for deae as other three subfamilies In subse-
chewing, smoking and snuff. Some orna- quent revisions in 2006 and 2007, he recog-
mental genera include Brunfelsia (lady-of- nises 7 subfamilies, adding Schizanthoideae,
the-night; yesterday-today-and tomorrow), Petunoideae and Nicotianoideae. APweb
Cestrum (‘Rat ki Rani’; night blooming jessa- (2008) likewise recognises 7 subfamilies, tak-
mine), Petunia, Physalis (ground cherry) and ing out Schwenckioideae doubtfully placed in
Solanum (nightshade). Browallioideae by Thorne, Sclerophylaceae
still unplaced. Olmstead et al. (1999) consid-
Phylogeny: The family is closely related to ered Schwenckia sister to rest of family, but
Scrophulariaceae from which it is differenti- Martins and Barkman (2005) using the