Solanum

Genus of Solanaceae

Food, Plant source foods, Flowering plats (angiospermae), Mesangiosperms, Eudicots, Core eudicots, Superastierds, Asterids, Lamiids, Solanales, Solanaceae

Consumption area(s): Earth

Note: For better understanding, please read the article on flowering plants (angiospermae) first. If you come across unfamiliar words, you can click on any highlighted term to open the glossary with definitions of key botanical terms.

Introduction

The Solanum genus stands out for its exceptional diversity, embracing a vast number of flowering plant species, some of which play a crucial role in global food production—notably the tomato, eggplant, and potato. As the most extensive group within the nightshade family (Solanaceae), it comprises approximately 1,500 to 2,000 species, depending on the taxonomic approach.

Description of Solanum

Species within the Solanum genus demonstrate an extraordinary variety of growth strategies. Some exist as short-lived annuals, while others persist as perennials. Their structures range from climbing vines to shrubs, and even modest trees, adapting to a wide range of environments.

The leaves are equally diverse in their design. Depending on the species, they may appear as entire, lobed, or compound, and they can be either smooth or hairy to the touch. This variability often helps in identifying species within the genus and reflects their ecological flexibility.

Flowers in Solanum plants are typically radially symmetrical (actinomorphic), showing a consistent pattern of five petals and five sepals. The calyx often takes on a bell-shaped (campanulate) appearance. Inside, the ovary sits above the other floral parts (superior ovary), is made of two fused carpels, and contains numerous ovules. The five stamens are usually attached to the corolla tube, forming a tight cluster around the pistil.

The fruit produced by these plants is most often a berry, usually fleshy, colorful, and sometimes edible. While domesticated examples like the tomato and eggplant yield large, familiar fruits, many wild Solanum species bear much smaller and often less palatable berries.

Classification of Solanum

This genus is divided based on species. Among these we find:

• African eggplant
• African nightshade
• Bush tomato
• Cakalaka berry
• Cocona
• Currant tomato
• Eggplant
• Jiló (scarlet eggplant)
• Kangaroo apple (poroporo)
• Lobeira (wolf apple)
• Naranjilla
• Pepino dulce
• Potato
• Tamarillo
• Indian nightshade (hairy-fruited eggplant)
• Tomato
• Turkey berry (devil’s fig)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solanum

https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solanum