The potato or Solanaceae family contains some of the most poisonous plants in the world, as well as some of the most important food plants. There are about 90 genera and 2600 species in this amazing family, including annuals, perennials, climbers, shrubs and small trees. They usually have star-shaped or bell-shaped flowers and simple leaves. The fruit is a berry or capsule containing many seeds.
Food plants
Important food plants in the Solanaceae family include potato (Solanum tuberosum), eggplant (S. melongena), tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum), tamarillo (Cyphomandra betacea), capsicum (Capsicum annuum) and cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana).
Garden ornamentals
Family members grown as ornamentals include petunias (Petunia spp), Angel’s trumpets (Datura spp), yesterday, today and tomorrow (Brunfelsia spp) and browallia or marmalade bush (Streptosolen jamesonii).
Toxic alkaloids
Many species produce poisonous alkaloids, and some are sources of drugs. For example, deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna) is a source of atropine, while poro poro (S. aviculare) is the source of a drug used in contraceptive pill manufacture. Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) is also a member of the Solanaceae family.