Solanaceae

Taxonomy

Family name: Solanaceae Jussieu

Synonym(s): Atropaceae Martinov; Cestraceae Schltdl.; Duckeodendraceae Kuhlm.; Goetzeaceae Miers ex Airy Shaw; Nolanaceae Bercht. & J. Presl, nom. cons.; Salpiglossidaceae Hutch.; Sclerophylacaceae Miers

Common name(s): potato family

*Number of genera/species: 97/2,600

List of genera records in GRIN-Global

Solanaceae Source includes keys to Solanum species.

Disseminule

fruit or seed

Description

Fruit a capsulecapsule:
a dry, dehiscent fruit derived from a compound ovary
loculicidalloculicidal:
type of capsular dehiscence, opening longitudinally through the locules (compare septicidal)
) septicidalsepticidal:
type of capsular dehiscence, opening longitudinally by separating between the septa of adjacent carpels
, or septifragalseptifragal:
type of capsular dehiscence, splitting through the exterior wall suture(s) but not the septum(-a), the valves of the wall then separating from the septum(-a) and the locules thus opened directly to the outside
, rarely circumscissle (Hyoscyamus)), berryberry:
an indehiscent, fleshy fruit with one or a few to many seeds. The flesh may be homogenous throughout. Or, if the outer part is hard, firm, or leathery, referred to as an hesperidium. Septa are present in some, and the seeds may be arillate or with a fleshy testa.
, drupedrupe:
(indehiscent drupe) a fleshy, indehiscent fruit with one more hard pits enclosing seeds, derived from single, superior, simple or compound ovary; (dehiscent drupe) a fruit with a dry or fibrous to fleshy or leathery outer husk that early to tardily breaks apart (or opens), exposing one or more nutlike pits enclosing the seeds
(Coeloneurum, Duckeodendron, Espadaea, Goetzea, Henoonia), schizocarpschizocarp:
usually dry fruit splitting between two or more locules to form distinct, indehiscent, usually one seeded segments; fruit derived from a single, superior or inferior, compound ovary; compare to mericarp
(Nolana), or carceruluscarcerulus:
simple, multicarpellate, indehiscent fruit consisting of one or more seeds and air space enclosed by an undifferentiated pericarp (Spjut 1994)
(Sclerophylax), 3.5–100 mm long, globoseglobose:
3D shape—more or less spherical
to angularangular:
2D shape—having sides that meet at acute or obtuse angles  
, tereteterete:
approximately circular in cross section; width and thickness approximately equal
in transection, with one to many seeds, usually subtended by persistent calyxcalyx:
the outer whorl of the perianth; all the sepals of a flower
, sometimes enclosed partially to fully by accrescentaccrescent:
growing continuously
calyx (sometimes inflated) or enclosed by hardened and spine-tipped calyxcalyx:
the outer whorl of the perianth; all the sepals of a flower
in Sclerophylax. Pericarppericarp:
fruit wall or fruit coat
brown, black, purple, blue, yellow, orange, red, purple, green, or white, rarely spotted, shinyshiny:
uniformly reflecting a high proportion of incident light at all angles
or dulldull:
reflecting only a low proportion of incident light, with no apparent sheen
, usually fleshy, chartaceouschartaceous:
papery, papyraceous
(Sclerophylax), glabrousglabrous:
without hairs
, rarely pubescentpubescent:
surface relief—bearing hairs
, smooth, rarely spinyspiny:
having slender, stiff, sharp projections oriented in the general plane of the structure
. Mesocarpmesocarp:
the middle layer of the pericarp, if divided into layers
usually fleshy (fibrousfibrous:
texture -- long, flexible threads, thicker than hairs, that densely cover and obscure the surface
in Duckeodendron), covered by leatheryleathery:
texture—moderately thick, tough, and very pliable
, woodywoody:
texture—consisting mainly of indurate lignified tissues, characteristic of or resembling wood
, membranousmembranous:
texture—extremely thin, pliable, and fairly tough
or dry and brittle epicarpepicarp:
outer layer of fruit wall or pericarp, if divided into layers; note here used synonymously with exocarp
.

Seeds globoseglobose:
3D shape—more or less spherical
to angularangular:
2D shape—having sides that meet at acute or obtuse angles  
, compressedcompressed:
flattened; in grasses, used to denote compression (not necessarily flattened) either laterally or dorsiventrally
or tereteterete:
approximately circular in cross section; width and thickness approximately equal
in transection, often flattened in berriesberry:
an indehiscent, fleshy fruit with one or a few to many seeds. The flesh may be homogenous throughout. Or, if the outer part is hard, firm, or leathery, referred to as an hesperidium. Septa are present in some, and the seeds may be arillate or with a fleshy testa.
, 0.3–35 mm long. Usually wingless, sometimes with thin, broad wing encompassing seed. ElaiosomesElaiosome:
a lipid and protein-rich fleshy structure attached to some seeds and fruits, it attracts ants which then disperse the disseminule (e.g., caruncle in the Euphorbiaceae, the aril (outgrowth of the funiculus) in the Fabaceae)
present in some species of Datura. Seed coat brown, black, or yellow, dulldull:
reflecting only a low proportion of incident light, with no apparent sheen
, glabrousglabrous:
without hairs
or pubescentpubescent:
surface relief—bearing hairs
with short, dense hairs, smooth or reticulatereticulate:
surface relief—netted, raised walls or concave grooves forming a net-like surface pattern with flat, concave, or convex interspaces
, wartywarty:
surface relief—distinct, rounded projections that are large relative to the fruit size; tuberculate, verrucose
, pittedpitted:
surface relief—surface with small depressions in which the areas between the hollows do not take on the appearance of a true reticular net
, or punctatepunctate:
surface relief—dotted with pits or with translucent, sunken glands or with colored dots, similar to pitted
. RaphaeRaphe:
a ridge or seam on the seed coat, formed by the portion of the funiculus united to the ovule wall in longitudinally curved ovules
conspicuous as a black dorsaldorsal:
abaxial; the back of an organ; the side away from the axis (compare ventral)
ridge (Coeloneurum, Espadaea, Goetzea, Henoonia). Hila punctate or larger than punctatepunctate:
surface relief—dotted with pits or with translucent, sunken glands or with colored dots, similar to pitted
.

Embryo well developed, usually one, two in (Coeloneurum, Espadaea, Goetzea, Henoonia), completely to partially filling seed coat, axileaxile:
on or of the axis
and centric or peripheralperipheral:
(of embryo) embryo is curved around the outer edge of the seed, near the seed coat
, linearlinear:
(shape) long, narrow, and uniform in width; (of embryo) embryo is straight and much longer than wide
, foliatefoliate:
appearing leaf-like
, or miniature, usually straight or curvedcurved:
(of embryo) linear embryo is curved into an arch or horseshoe with the ends far apart
, curvedcurved:
(of embryo) linear embryo is curved into an arch or horseshoe with the ends far apart
to spiral in Nolana, or U-shaped (Duckeodendron).

Endosperm usually copious, scanty in Duckeodendron.

Weed information

Can be a common weed in uplands and wetlands. Spreads by seed reproduction and rhizome propagation. 

Noxious Weeds: USA Federal Noxious Weed List, terrrestrial, Lycium ferocissimum Miers, Solanum torvum Swartz, Solanum viarum Dunal; aquatic, Solanum tampicense Dunal.

Federal Noxious Weed Disseminules of the US tool provides keys, descriptions, and images of these species. Aquarium & Pond Plants of the World tool also includes descriptions and images of Solanum.

Identification features

Fruit
Type	berryberry: an indehiscent, fleshy fruit with one or a few to many seeds. The flesh may be homogenous throughout. Or, if the outer part is hard, firm, or leathery, referred to as an hesperidium. Septa are present in some, and the seeds may be arillate or with a fleshy testa. , capsulecapsule: a dry, dehiscent fruit derived from a compound ovary , drupedrupe: (indehiscent drupe) a fleshy, indehiscent fruit with one more hard pits enclosing seeds, derived from single, superior, simple or compound ovary; (dehiscent drupe) a fruit with a dry or fibrous to fleshy or leathery outer husk that early to tardily breaks apart (or opens), exposing one or more nutlike pits enclosing the seeds , schizocarpschizocarp: usually dry fruit splitting between two or more locules to form distinct, indehiscent, usually one seeded segments; fruit derived from a single, superior or inferior, compound ovary; compare to mericarp , carceruluscarcerulus: simple, multicarpellate, indehiscent fruit consisting of one or more seeds and air space enclosed by an undifferentiated pericarp (Spjut 1994)
Size range	3.5–100 mm long
Shape(s)	globoseglobose: 3D shape—more or less spherical , ellipsoidellipsoid: 3D shape—elliptic , fusiformfusiform: spindle-shaped; broadest at the middle and tapering at both ends , ovoidovoid: 3D shape—ovate , pear-shaped, obconicobconic: 2D shape—cone-shaped, with attachment at or near the narrow end , angularangular: 2D shape—having sides that meet at acute or obtuse angles
Texture	mesocarpmesocarp: the middle layer of the pericarp, if divided into layers usually fleshy, covered by leatheryleathery: texture—moderately thick, tough, and very pliable , woodywoody: texture—consisting mainly of indurate lignified tissues, characteristic of or resembling wood , membranousmembranous: texture—extremely thin, pliable, and fairly tough or dry and brittle epicarpepicarp: outer layer of fruit wall or pericarp, if divided into layers; note here used synonymously with exocarp
Surface relief	smooth, rarely spinyspiny: having slender, stiff, sharp projections oriented in the general plane of the structure
Color(s)	brown, black, purple, blue, yellow, orange, red, purple, green, white, rarely spotted
Unique features	Usually many-seeded berriesberry: an indehiscent, fleshy fruit with one or a few to many seeds. The flesh may be homogenous throughout. Or, if the outer part is hard, firm, or leathery, referred to as an hesperidium. Septa are present in some, and the seeds may be arillate or with a fleshy testa. or capsulescapsule: a dry, dehiscent fruit derived from a compound ovary , often brightly colored, with fleshy, including spongyspongy: soft, light, discontinuous but cohesive, and somewhat resilient or pulpy mesocarpsmesocarp: the middle layer of the pericarp, if divided into layers .
Seed
Size range	0.3–35 mm long
Shape(s)	globoseglobose: 3D shape—more or less spherical , discoiddiscoid: 3D shape—resembling a disc , circularcircular: (of embryo) linear embryo is curved into an "O" shape , ellipsoidellipsoid: 3D shape—elliptic , ovoidovoid: 3D shape—ovate , lens-shapedlens-shaped: 2D shape—round and flattened with two curved (convex) surfaces , reniformreniform: 2D or 3D shape—kidney-shaped , angularangular: 2D shape—having sides that meet at acute or obtuse angles   , cuboidal, U-shaped (Duckeodendron)
Surface relief	smooth, reticulatereticulate: surface relief—netted, raised walls or concave grooves forming a net-like surface pattern with flat, concave, or convex interspaces , wartywarty: surface relief—distinct, rounded projections that are large relative to the fruit size; tuberculate, verrucose , pittedpitted: surface relief—surface with small depressions in which the areas between the hollows do not take on the appearance of a true reticular net , punctatepunctate: surface relief—dotted with pits or with translucent, sunken glands or with colored dots, similar to pitted
Color(s)	brown, black, yellow
Unique features	Usually brown or yellow seeds, often finely netted, pittedpitted: surface relief—surface with small depressions in which the areas between the hollows do not take on the appearance of a true reticular net , or with regular depressions, flattened in berriesberry: an indehiscent, fleshy fruit with one or a few to many seeds. The flesh may be homogenous throughout. Or, if the outer part is hard, firm, or leathery, referred to as an hesperidium. Septa are present in some, and the seeds may be arillate or with a fleshy testa. or angularangular: 2D shape—having sides that meet at acute or obtuse angles   (often cuboidal) in capsulescapsule: a dry, dehiscent fruit derived from a compound ovary , and with copious, fleshy endosperm. HilaHilum: on seeds, the scar indicating where the funiculus was attached; on grass caryopses, the scar visible on the outer fruit surface revealing where the seed is attached on the inner fruit wall surface; or in Asteraceae cypselae, the scar visible on the outer fruit wall revealing where the fruit was attached to the receptacle in flattened seeds marginalmarginal: at, on, or close to the margin or border or occasionally in the notch. In angularangular: 2D shape—having sides that meet at acute or obtuse angles   seeds, hilahilum: on seeds, the scar indicating where the funiculus was attached; on grass caryopses, the scar visible on the outer fruit surface revealing where the seed is attached on the inner fruit wall surface; or in Asteraceae cypselae, the scar visible on the outer fruit wall revealing where the fruit was attached to the receptacle at one end.
Other
Embryo	well developed, usually one, two in (Coeloneurum, Espadaea, Goetzea, Henoonia), completely to partially filling seed coat, axileaxile: on or of the axis and centric or peripheralperipheral: (of embryo) embryo is curved around the outer edge of the seed, near the seed coat , linearlinear: (shape) long, narrow, and uniform in width; (of embryo) embryo is straight and much longer than wide , foliatefoliate: appearing leaf-like , or miniature, usually straight or curvedcurved: (of embryo) linear embryo is curved into an arch or horseshoe with the ends far apart , curvedcurved: (of embryo) linear embryo is curved into an arch or horseshoe with the ends far apart to spiral in Nolana, or U-shaped (Duckeodendron)
Nutritive tissue	endosperm usually copious, scanty in Duckeodendron

Distribution

Worldwide, diverse in tropical America.

Distribution map courtesy of Angiosperm Phylogeny Website.

References

Chiarini and Bohs 2022Chiarini and Bohs 2022:
Chiarini DR and L Bohs. 2022. Phylogeny, character evolution and biogeography of the genus Sclerophylax (Solanaceae). Taxon 71(6): 1251&-1267. https://doi.org/10.1002/tax.12796; Kirkbride et al. 2006Kirkbride et al. 2006:
Kirkbride JH, Jr, Gunn CR, and Dallwitz MJ. 2006. Family guide for fruits and seeds, vers. 1.0. Accessed September 2020-January 2022. URL: https://nt.ars-grin.gov/seedsfruits/keys/frsdfam/index.cfm .; Knapp et al. 2019Knapp et al. 2019:
Knapp S, Vorontsova MS, and Särkinen T. 2019. Dichotomous keys to the species of Solanum L. (Solanaceae) in continental Africa, Madagascar (incl. the Indian Ocean islands), Macaronesia and the Cape Verde Islands. PhytoKeys 127: 39&-76.; Kubitzki et al. 1990+Kubitzki et al. 1990+:
Kubitzki K et al., eds. 1990+. The families and genera of vascular plants. 7+ vols. Berlin etc.; Mentz and Oliveira 2004Mentz and Oliveira 2004:
Mentz LA. and de Oliveira PL. 2004. Solanum (Solonaceae) NA Região Sul Do Brasil. Pesquisas. Botânica. Brazil: Instituto Anchietano de Pesquisas. No. 54. 327 pp.; Milliken et al. 2009+Milliken et al. 2009+:
Milliken W, Klitgard B, and Baracat A. 2009+. Neotropikey - Interactive key and information resources for flowering plants of the Neotropics.; Noxious Weed Regulations 2020Noxious Weed Regulations 2020:
Noxious Weed Regulations. 2020. 7 C.F.R. sect; 360.100-360.600.; PBI Solanum Project 2023PBI Solanum Project 2023:
PBI Solanum Project. 2023. Solanaceae Source. Accessed March 2023. URL: http://www.solanaceaesource.org/; USDA 1980USDA 1980:
United States Dept. of Agriculture (USDA). 1980. Major weed family identification guide. Hyattsville Md, United States ; Takhtajan 2009Takhtajan 2009:
Takhtajan A. 2009. Flowering plants: Second edition. Springer Nature, Switzerland. 871 pp.; Zomlefer 1994Zomlefer 1994:
Zomlefer WB. 1994. Guide to Flowering Plant Families. The University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill. 430 pp.

*The number of genera and species is based on Christenhusz and Byng 2016Christenhusz and Byng 2016:
Christenhusz MJM and Byng JW. 2016. The number of known plant species in the world and its annual increase. Phytotaxa 261 (3): 201-217. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.261.3.1, which may differ from the number of genera in GRIN-Global.