Solanaceae

SOLANACEAE

Habit: These are herbs and shrubs; bicollateral bundles or internal phloem are often present.

Leaves: These are simple, sometimes pinnate, as in tomato, and alternate.

Flowers: These are regular, seldom zygomorphic, as in Brunfelsia, bisexual and hypogynous.

Calyx: The sepals are (5), united and persistent.

Corolla: The petals are (5) and united. It is usually funnel or cup shaped, five lobed. The lobes are valvate or twisted in the bud.

Androecium: The stamens are five, epipetalous and alter-nate with the corolla lobes. The anthers are apparently connate and often open by means of pores.

Gynoecium: The carpels are (2) and syncarpous. The ovary is superior and obliquely placed. It is two celled or sometimes four celled, owing to the development of a false septum, as in tomato and thorn apple. There are many ovules in each chamber. The placentation is axile.

Fruit: The fruit is a berry or capsule with many seeds.

                                               Floral diagram of solanaceae

Examples: Atropa belladona, tomato, capsicum, datura, etc.