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Solanaceae
Potato Family
By: George
Rogers
A
widespread tropical-temperate family of some 75 genera and over 2000 species.
Herbs to trees with alternate leaves without stipules, often pubescent,
frequently scented. Flowers usually radially symmetrical, generally
funnel-shaped or star-shaped, with 5 sepals, 5 connate petals, and 5 stamens,
these often held together edge-to-edge. Buds with the folds of the petals
pleated. Ovary superior, sometimes with complex, enlarged placentae. Important
family for food plants (potato, eggplant, tomato), drugs, tobacco, and
ornamentals.
Key to
Solanaceae Important in South Florida Landscaping
1. Stamens
paired 2+2, or 5 in two groups…2
1. Stamens
5, all of them alike…3
2. Flowers
large (>1” diam.); stamens attached below the middle of the tube…Petunia
(Annual
bedding selections and container plants)
2. Flowers
small (<1” diam.); stamens attached above the middle of the tube…Cup-Flowers (Nierembergia
species)
3. Flowers
1’ long, dangling…Angel’s Trumpets (Brugmansia hybrids)
(Chalice
Vine, Solandra guttata, has similar, creamy-colored flowers, but the
flowers do not dangle, and the plant is a vine, not a shrub. Datura
species are also similar but the flowers are smaller, often double, not
dangling, usually purple; Datura has bristly fruits)
3. Flowers
< 6” long…4
4. Flowers
purple-blue changing to white, flat-faced…5
4. Flowers
white or orange-yellow, tubular…6
5. Leaves
3”-4” long; corolla 2” diam.; plant 6’ tall…Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow (Brunfelsia
pauciflora)
5. Leaves
8” long; corolla >2.5” diam.; plant to 12’ tall….Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow (Brunfelsia
grandiflora)
Other plants listed in the manual include:
Browallia
americana
Solanum americanum
Solanum tampicense
Solanum viarum |
