Family Description

The nightshade family is a large group of dicotyledonous herbs, shrubs or trees native to temperate and tropical areas, especially in the Americas. The family contains 85 genera and 2300 species. Leaves are alternate, usually simple but occasionally pinnate. Stems are sometimes covered with thorns. Plants frequently have viscid pubescence. Flowers are 5-merous, rotate, funnelform or salverform and borne singly. The fruit is a berry or capsule.

Main diagnostic features of this family:

• alternate leaves
• 5-merous, symmetrical flowers

The nightshades are easily grown in sunny sites with relatively fertile soils. Propagation is primarily by seeds or sets in the case of potatoes. Seeds germinate best with temperatures above 70°F. Numerous insects feed on the foliage and diseases are common on the vegetables.

This family contains many important vegetables such as tomato, pepper and potato and the drug plant, tobacco. Important genera include Atropa, Browallia, Brunfelsia, Capsicum, Cestrum, Datura, Fabiana, Iochroma, Lycium, Lycopersicon, Nicandra, Nicotiana, Nierembergia, Petunia, Physalis, Salpichroa, Salpiglossis, Schizanthus, Solandra, Solanum, and Streptosolen

Petunia hybrida (left), Physalis alkekengi (center) with flower and fruit, and Solanum torreyi with fruit (right).

Representative Species

			click thumbnail to enlarge
*	Brugmansia species and hybrids	Brugmansia, Angel’s Trumpet (cream, pink, lavender) (white, yellow, purple)
	Datura innoxia
	Datura metel
*	Calibrachoa x hybrida	Calibrachoa
*	Capsicum annuum	Ornamental pepper
	Nicotiana alata	Flowering Tobacco
*	Petunia x hybrida	Petunia

Petunia Types and Series