SOLANACEAE

NIGHTSHADE FAMILY

Michael Nee

Annual to shrub
Leaves generally simple, generally alternate, generally petioled; stipules 0; blade entire to deeply lobed
Inflorescence various
Flower bisexual; calyx lobes generally 5; corolla ± radial, cylindric to rotate, lobes generally 5; stamens 5, alternate corolla lobes; ovary superior, generally 2-chambered, style 1
Fruit: berry or capsule, 2–5-chambered
Genera in family: 75 genera, 3000 species: worldwide, especially ± tropical; many alien weeds in CA; many cultivated for food, drugs, or ornamental (potato, tomato, peppers, tobacco, petunia); many TOXIC.

SOLANUM

NIGHTSHADE

Annual to shrub or vine, often glandular, sometimes prickly
Leaves alternate to subopposite, often unequal, entire to deeply pinnately lobed
Inflorescence: panicle or umbel-like, often 1-sided
Flower: calyx ± bell-shaped; corolla ± rotate, white to purple; anthers free, > filaments, oblong or tapered, opening by 2 pores or short slits near tip; ovary 2-chambered, style 1, stigma head-like
Fruit: berry, generally spheric (or dry, capsule-like)
Seeds many, compressed, generally reniform
Species in genus: ± 1500 species: worldwide, especially tropical Am
Etymology: (Latin: quieting, from narcotic properties)
Reference: [Symon 1981 J Adelaide Bot Gard 4:1–367]
Many cultivated for food (including potato, S. tuberosum ), ornamental; many TOXIC.

Native

S. umbelliferum Eschsch.

Perennial to subshrub generally < 10 dm, much-branched; hairs generally dense, branched
Leaf 1–4 cm, ± elliptic to (ob)ovate, generally entire
Inflorescence ± umbel-like, sometimes forked; pedicels 12–15 mm, > peduncle
Flower: calyx 3–3.5 mm; corolla 16–25 mm wide, lavender to blue-purple, lobes < tube, each with 2 greenish spots at base; anthers 3–5 mm
Fruit 12–14 mm diam
Seed ± 2 mm
Ecology: Shrubland, mixed-evergreen forest, woodland
Elevation: < 1600 m.
Bioregional distribution: Northwestern California (uncommon), deltaic Great Central Valley, Central Western California, Southwestern California
Distribution outside California: Arizona, Baja California
Synonyms: vars. glabrescens Torr. and incanum Torr
May hybridize with S. parishii, S. xanti ; needs study
Horticultural information: DRN, IRR: 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 &SUN: 15, 16, 17, 24.