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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.

Introduced

S. aviculare Forst. f.

Shrub 2–4 m, generally glabrous
Leaf 10–30 cm, entire to deeply lobed
Inflorescence generally raceme-like
Flower: calyx 3–4 mm; corolla 30–40 mm wide, shallowly lobed, bluish violet; anthers ± 4 mm; style 7–10 mm
Fruit 10–15 mm diam, orange-red
Seed ± 1.5 mm
Ecology: Uncommon. Open, generally disturbed places
Elevation: < 100 m.
Bioregional distribution: North Coast, n Central Coast
Distribution outside California: native to Australasia
Synonyms: S. laciniatum Aiton misapplied to CA plants
Urban SCo waifs with densely hairy herbage and corollas 11–15 mm wide are S. mauritianum Scop.

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