Spermatophyta: Dicotyledonae: Metachlamydeae: Solanales

Solanaceae - Potato family

Gonçalves, A.E. (2005) Solanaceae Flora Zambesiaca 8(4)

Ntore, S. & Sosef, M.S.M. (2020) Solanaceae Flore d'Afrique Centrale Nouvelle Serie Jardin Botanique Meise, Belgique

Description of the family

Herbs, shrubs or rarely trees. Stipules 0 (but pseudostipules are present in Solanum mauritianum). Leaves alternate, or occasionally fasciculate. Flowers bisexual, hypogynous, actinomorphic or slightly zygomorphic, solitary or in cymes, clusters or racemes. Calyx (3-)5(-6)-lobed, often persistent and accrescent. Corolla gamopetalous with 5 (or more) lobes. Stamens inserted on corolla-tube. Disk usually present. Ovary superior, usually 2-locular; ovules numerous. Fruit a capsule or berry.

Worldwide: 94 genera and 2,950 species, ± cosmopolitan, but especially South America.

DRC: 9 cultivated genera and 7 cultivated taxa.

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Links to cultivated genera:     View: living plant images - herbarium specimen images - all images for this family

GenusContent
Browallia L.Description
Brugmansia Pers.Description
Brunfelsia L.Description
Capsicum L.Description
Cestrum L.Description
Petunia Juss.Description
Physalis L.Description
Solandra Sw.Description
Solanum L.Description

Other sources of information about Solanaceae:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Solanaceae
Flora of Botswana: cultivated Solanaceae
Flora of Burundi: Solanaceae
Flora of Burundi: cultivated Solanaceae
Flora of Caprivi: Solanaceae
Flora of Caprivi: cultivated Solanaceae
Flora of the DRC: Solanaceae
Flora of Malawi: Solanaceae
Flora of Malawi: cultivated Solanaceae
Flora of Mozambique: Solanaceae
Flora of Mozambique: cultivated Solanaceae
Flora of Rwanda: Solanaceae
Flora of Rwanda: cultivated Solanaceae
Flora of Zambia: Solanaceae
Flora of Zambia: cultivated Solanaceae
Flora of Zimbabwe: Solanaceae
Flora of Zimbabwe: cultivated Solanaceae

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Solanaceae
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Solanaceae
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Solanaceae
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Solanaceae
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Solanaceae
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Solanaceae
JSTOR Plant Science: Solanaceae
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Solanaceae
Wikipedia: Solanaceae
Plants of the World Online: Solanaceae
Tropicos: Solanaceae



Copyright: The DRC flora team, 2024-26

The DRC flora team (2026). Flora of the Democratic Republic of the Congo: Cultivated plants: Family page: Solanaceae.
https://www.drcongoflora.com/cult/family.php?family_id=211, retrieved 20 May 2026

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