Solanaceae family is also known as the potato family. Around 2000 species of dicotyledonous plants belong to this family. Solanaceae is a family of angiosperms. It is widely distributed all over the world in tropical, subtropical and temperate zones. It includes a number of spices, medicinal plants, agricultural crops, etc. Vegetables like potatoes, tomatoes, bell peppers, eggplant are included in the Solanaceae family. Many plants are of medicinal importance. The main medicinal plants are Atropa belladonna, Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha), Datura, etc. Some alkaloids are toxic too. Some of the important alkaloids are tropanes, nicotine, capsaicin, solanine, hyoscyamine, etc. Many ornamental plants also belong to this family. E.g. Petunia, Lycianthes, Cestrum, etc. These are important sources of spices. E.g. chilly The leaves of Nicotiana tabacum are a major source of tobacco. Tobacco is a commercially very important plant.

1. SOLANACEAE
FAMILY
Dr. Madhubala P Gopinath
Dept. of Dravyaguna
GAVC, Trivandrum

2. INDEX
1 INTRODUCTION
2 SYSTEMATIC POSITION OF SOLANACE – TAXONOMICAL ORDER
3 COMMON PLANTS IN SOLANACEAE
4 IMPORTANT GENERA IN SOLANACEAE
5 LISTING OF IMPORTANT MEDICINAL PLANTS IN SOLANACEAE
6 DESCRIPTION OF THE FAMILY
7 CHARACTERSTICS OF SOLANACEAE – VEGETATIVE AND FLORAL CHARACTERS, FLORAL FORMULA
8 ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF SOLANACEAE FAMILY
9 DESCRIPTION ON MEDICINAL PLANTS OF SOLANACEAE – 9 SOLANACEAE MEMBERS

3. Solanaceae
• Solanaceae family is also known as the potato family.
• Around 2000 species of dicotyledonous plants belong to this family.
• Solanaceae is a family of angiosperms.
• It is widely distributed all over the world in tropical, subtropical and
temperate zones.
• It includes a number of spices, medicinal plants, agricultural crops,
etc. Vegetables like potatoes, tomatoes, bell peppers, eggplant are
included in the Solanaceae family.

4. Systematic Position Of Solanaceae
• Kingdom: Plantae
• Subkingdom: Tracheobionta
• Super Division: Spermatophyta
• Division: Magnoliophyta
• Class: Magnoliopsida
• Subclass: Asteridae
• Order: Solanales
• Family: Solanaceae

5. Some Common Plants
Common name Scientific name
Potato Solanum tuberosum
Eggplant S. melongena
Tomato S. lycopersicum
Bell pepper Capsicum annuum
Tobacco Nicotiana tabacum
Belladonna Atropa belladonna
Ashwagandha Withania somnifera
Datura Datura stramonium
Black nightshade S. nigrum
Petunia Petunia hybrida
Solanaceae is a big family of flowering plants having ~102 genera accounting for ~2500
species. Some common examples are:

6. Some important genera in Solanaceae family
~102 genera accounting for ~2500 species.
Solanum, Capsicum, Nicotiana, Petunia, Physalis, Withania, Datura,
Brugmansia are some of the genera included in Solanaceae

8. Some important medicinal plants of Solanaceae
1. Aswagandha Withania somnifera
2. Bruhati Solanum indicum
3. Dattura Datura metel
4. Kantakari Solanum xanthocarpum
5. Kakamachi Solanum nigrum
6. Parasika yavani Hyoscyamus niger
7. Soochi Atropa belladona
8. Katuveera Capsicum annum
9. Tambaku Nicotiana Tabacum

9. Description Of The Family (1)
• Habit: Solanaceae family contains herbs, shrubs and also some small trees.
• Root: Typically they possess a tap root system with branching.

10. Description Of The Family(2)
• Stem: Aerial, branched, erect, mostly herbaceous, cylindrical, hairy or glabrous.
Potato is an example of an underground stem.
• Leaf: Leaves are simple, alternate and sometimes pinnately compound. Venation is
reticulate. Leaves are exstipulate or sessile. Sometimes transformed into spines.
•
Stem of Solanaceae plant Leaves of S. tuberosum

11. Description Of The Family(3)
• Inflorescence: Flowers are solitary or grouped having axillary or cymose
inflorescence.
• Flower: Bracteate or ebracteolate, actinomorphic and generally
hermaphrodite. The flower is pentamerous and hypogynous.

12. Description Of The Family(4)
• Calyx: Sepals green or colored, typically 5 sepals, gamosepalous,
persistent and show valvate aestivation.
• Corolla: Petals 5, gamopetalous and valvate or imbricate aestivation.
Flowers of potato
Flowers of Datura sps. Flowers of Datura sps.

13. Description Of The Family(5)
• Androecium: Stamens 5, polyandrous and epipetalous.
• Gynoecium: Bicarpellary, syncarpous with the superior and bilocular ovary.
Each locule contains many ovules (1-50). The placenta is swollen and axile
placentation. The ovary is placed obliquely. It contains one style and one
simple or bilobate stigma.
• Fruit: It can be berry, e.g. tomatoes or capsule as in datura.
• Seeds: Contains many seeds that are endospermic. Seeds are mostly round
and flat. The embryo is curved or straight with two cotyledons. Mostly
plants contain 2n = 24 (2 x 12) chromosomes but polyploidy is also seen
with chromosomes in multiples of 12.
• Pollination: Members of this family mainly exhibit entomophilous
pollination, i.e. pollinated by insects.

14. tals

15. Characteristics of
Solanaceae Family

16. Vegetative Characters
•Root System: Taproot system.
•Stem: Erect or climber; Solanaceae
includes herbs, shrubs, small trees, and
climbers.
•Leaves: Alternate, simple or pinnately
compound (rarely); exstipulate;
reticulate venation.

17. Floral characters
• Inflorescence: Racemose- terminal or axillary raceme; Cymose- solitary in
Solanum.
• Flower: Complete, bisexual, actinomorphic, hypogynous.
• Calyx: Five sepals, gamosepalous; valvate aestivation.
• Corolla: Five petals, gamopetalous, valvate aestivation.
• Androecium: Five stamens, epipetalous; anthers basifixed.
• Gynoecium: Syncarpous, bicarpellary, bilocular, superior ovary, axile placentation.
• Fruit: Berry/ capsule.
• Seed: Numerous, endospermous

18. Floral formula
⊕ Actinomorphic (radial symmetry)
⚥ Bisexual
K(5) Calyx – 5 sepals, gamosepalous (united)
C(5) Corolla – 5 petals, gamopetalous
A5 Androecium – 5 stamens, polyandrous (free),
epipetalous (attached to petals)
G(2) Gynoecium – bicarpellary, syncarpous (united),
superior ovary
A floral formula is a symbolic representation of different floral parts, their numbers,
arrangement pattern and how they are related. The general floral formula of Solanaceae
family is as follows:

19. Flower of Datura metel Floral diagram
Floral formula -

20. Economic Importance
• These are an important source of vegetables. E.g. tomato, brinjal and
potato, bell peppers, capsicum etc.
• Many plants are of medicinal importance. The main medicinal plants
are Atropa belladonna, Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha), Datura, etc.
• Some alkaloids are toxic too. Some of the important alkaloids are tropanes,
nicotine, capsaicin, solanine, hyoscyamine, etc.
• Many ornamental plants also belong to this family. E.g. Petunia, Lycianthes,
Cestrum, etc.
• These are important sources of spices. E.g. chilly
• The leaves of Nicotiana tabacum are a major source of tobacco. Tobacco is
a commercially very important plant.

21. Index
1. Aswagandha
2. Bruhati
3. Datura
4. Kantakari
5. Kakamachi
6. Parasika yavani
7. Soochi
8. Katuveera
9. Tambaku

22. Aswagandha Withania somnifera
CHARACTERS
HABIT Much branched perennial herb.
STEM Aerial, erect, herbaceous above, woody below, densely covered with
fine stellate hair
LEAVES Cauline and ramal, alternate, ovate-oblong, entire, with thick and long
petioles, covered with glandular hair
INFLORESCENCE Sub-sessile, axillary umbellate, 5 flowered cyme
FLOWER Greenish yellow subsessile, pedicellate, complete, bisexual
CALYX Pentamerous, gamosepalous, tomentose
COROLLA Pentamerous, campanulate, greenish yellow in color
ANDROECIUM 5 free stamen
GYNOECIUM Bicarpellary, syncarpous, bilocular, axile placentation
FRUIT Small berry, globose, yellow or red when ripe
SEED Endospermic
USED PART Root

23. Bruhati Solanum indicum
CHARACTERS
HABIT Armed shrub
STEM Herbaceous, branched, green, prickly
LEAVES Simple, exstipulate, densely stellate-pubescent, sinuate
leaves
INFLORESCENCE Extra – axillary corymbose cyme
FLOWER Ebracteate, bisexual, zygomorphic, hypogynous
CALYX Cupular, pubescent lobes which are enlarged in fruit
COROLLA Stellate, pubescent, acute, white, plicate
ANDROECIUM 5 stamens
GYNOECIUM Superior ovary, bilocular
FRUIT Green or yellowish-orange berry, globose, pulpy
SEED Circular, smooth
USED PART Root/ Fruit/ Leaves

24. Datura Datura metel
CHARACTERS
HABIT Large herb giving bushy look. ~3 feet height.
STEM Stout, erect, branching repeatedly
LEAVES Large, angular, 10-15 cm long, wavy and toothed margin,
strong veins, dark green upper surface, paler undersurface
INFLORESCENCE Solitary
FLOWER Large attractive, ~ 8cm long, mostly white
CALYX Tubular calyx
COROLLA Funnel shaped corolla, white or varied in color
ANDROECIUM 5 stamens, epipetalous, basifixed, dithecous with long
filament
GYNOECIUM Superior ovary, syncarpous, bicarpellary
FRUIT Large capsule with numerous sharp spines, splits open
when ripe
SEED Brownish seeds
USED PART Seed/ Leaves/ Root

25. Kantakari Solanum xanthocarpum
HABIT
STEM
LEAVES
INFLORESCENCE
FLOWER
CALYX
COROLLA
ANDROECIUM
GYNOECIUM
FRUIT
SEED
USED PART
CHARACTERS
HABIT Perennial herb, prickly, prostrate –with yellow straight spines
all over the plant
STEM Erect, solid, branched, dark green and glabrous
LEAVES Exstipulate, petiolate, alternate, simple reticulate unicostate
venation with thorns
INFLORESCENCE Extra axillary short peduncled cyme, sometimes solitary
flowers
FLOWER Complete, actinomorphic, bisexual, bluish purple or violet
colored
CALYX 5 sepals
COROLLA 5 petals
ANDROECIUM 5 stamens which are free
GYNOECIUM Bicarpellary, syncarpous with bilocular ovary, axile placentation
FRUIT Berry with endospermic seeds
SEED Yellowish brown, glabrous, circular

26. Kakamachi Solanum nigrum
HABIT
STEM
LEAVES
INFLORESCENCE
FLOWER
CALYX
COROLLA
ANDROECIUM
GYNOECIUM
FRUIT
SEED
USED PART
CHARACTERS
HABIT Annual herb
STEM Erect, more or less pubescent
LEAVES Simple, alternate leaves, 2.5-9 cm long, 2-5cm wide, ovate-
lanceolate, sub-acute or acuminate tip, sinuately toothed
tapering into a petiole which is ~2cm long
INFLORESCENCE Lax, 3-8 flowered cyme
FLOWER Small, solitary white flowers, actinomorphic
CALYX 5 sepals, fused, campanulate
COROLLA 5 petals, fused, white, wheel shaped
ANDROECIUM 5 stamens, anthers in a conical group
GYNOECIUM 2 fused carpels
FRUIT Green or black fruits arranged in an umbelliform fashion
SEED Yellowish brown, flat, circular

27. Parasika yavani Hyoscyamus niger
HABIT
STEM
LEAVES
INFLORESCENCE
FLOWER
CALYX
COROLLA
ANDROECIUM
GYNOECIUM
FRUIT
SEED
USED PART
CHARACTERS
HABIT Biennial or annual herb
STEM Erect, coarse, hairy, robust, grows up to ~80cm in height
LEAVES Basal leaves are spreading petiolate, oblong, ovate, 15-20cm,
coarsely sinuate toothed. Cauline leaves are smaller, sessile,
triangular and lanceolate.
INFLORESCENCE Terminal scorpioid cymes which are dense
FLOWER Zygomorphic, widely funnel shaped
CALYX 5 lobed, campanulate (bell shaped)
COROLLA Dirty yellow petals veined with violet, throat is purplish black
ANDROECIUM 5 stamens, epipetalous
GYNOECIUM 2 fused carpels
FRUIT Long circumscissile capsule protected by urceolate (pitcher-
shaped) calyx, ‘urn’ shaped fruit
SEED Black or brownish grey seeds, small and compressed, nearly
ovoid, 10,000 – 50,000 seeds per plant on fruiting
USED PART Seed

28. SOOCHI Atropa belledonna
HABIT
STEM
LEAVES
INFLORESCENCE
FLOWER
CALYX
COROLLA
ANDROECIUM
GYNOECIUM
FRUIT
SEED
USED PART
HABIT Perennial herb, sometimes subshrub
STEM Erect,
LEAVES Dark green, simple, alternate
INFLORESCENCE Solitary
FLOWER Purple bell shaped flowers, drooping,
tubular
CALYX 5 lobed, fused
COROLLA 5 lobed, fused, purple in color,
campanulate
ANDROECIUM --
GYNOECIUM Bilocular
FRUIT Purple- black berry
SEED Yellow to brown seeds
USED PART Roots/Leaves/ Fruits/ Tops

29. KATUVEERA Capsicum annum
HABIT
STEM
LEAVES
INFLORESCENCE
FLOWER
CALYX
COROLLA
ANDROECIUM
GYNOECIUM
FRUIT
SEED
USED PART
CHARACTERS
HABIT In the absence of winter frosts, survive for many years.
Otherwise annual, shrub
STEM Erect, densely branched, tomentose stem, up to 60cm tall
LEAVES Alternate, simple, ovate, acuminate at apex, light to dark
green, subglabrous
INFLORESCENCE Singly terminal flowers
FLOWER White and solitary
CALYX Cup shaped, 5 teeth
COROLLA Companulate, 5-7 lobes, usually white
ANDROECIUM 5-7 stamen, pale blue anthers
GYNOECIUM Filiform white or purplish style
FRUIT Non pulp berry, variable in size, shape and color – green /
yellow when immature, orange/red/ yellow when ripe
SEED Orbicular, flattened seeds, pale yellow
USED PART Fruit is used as a spice

30. TAMBAKU Nicotiana tabaccum
HABIT
STEM
LEAVES
INFLORESCENCE
FLOWER
CALYX
COROLLA
ANDROECIUM
GYNOECIUM
FRUIT
SEED
USED PART
HABIT Annual herbaceous plant, hairy on all parts
STEM Thick, not very branched, erect
LEAVES Over 50cm long with blades ovate to elliptical, sessile
INFLORESCENCE Multi branched panicles/ cymes, 5-15mm long
FLOWER Greenish cream with pink or red at the tip
CALYX Narrow pointed calyx lobes shorter than calyx tube
COROLLA Funnel shaped flower, lobed coronet
ANDROECIUM 5 stamens, uneven, hairy at the base
GYNOECIUM Syncarpous, single style, bicarpellary, axile placentation
FRUIT Long capsule, egg shaped
SEED Spherical seeds up to 0.5mm with wavy networked surface
USED PART Leaf / Stem

31. THANK YOU