Solanaceae
Solanaceae
Solanaceae (pronounced /ˌsoʊləˈneɪsiː/), also known as the nightshade or potato family, is a family of flowering plants.
Etymology
The name Solanaceae derives from the genus Solanum, "the nightshade plant". The etymology of the Latin word is uncertain. The name may come from a perceived resemblance of certain solanaceous flowers to the sun and its rays.
Description
Solanaceae consists of about 98 genera and some 2,700 species, with a great diversity of habitats, morphology and ecology. The family is distributed throughout the world, and has a concentration of diversity in South America. Many of the species within the Solanaceae family are widely used by humans and have cultural, medical and culinary importance.
Genera
The Solanaceae include a number of commonly collected or cultivated species. The most economically important genus of the family is Solanum, which contains the potato (S. tuberosum), the tomato (S. lycopersicum), and the aubergine or eggplant (S. melongena). Another important genus, Capsicum, produces both chili peppers and bell peppers.
Medical Importance
Many plants of the Solanaceae family have been used in traditional medicine around the world, especially in the tropics where the diversity of the family is greatest. Some of these plants are used in Ayurveda and Chinese traditional medicine. The alkaloids present in some species, especially those belonging to the genera Atropa, Hyoscyamus, Mandragora, Datura, and Brugmansia, are powerful drugs that have been used for many medical purposes, but they are also highly toxic.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Solanaceae
- Wikipedia's article - Solanaceae
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski