Solanaceae
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Genera : 90

Species: 2-3000

Distribution: Cosmopolitan with centers in Australia, Central and South America

Economic Uses: Food plants, ornamentals, alkaloids used in medicine and tobacco

Defining Features of Interest: Often have branched hairs or prickles; internal phloem around pith.

Fossil Evidence:

Defining Morphology

Floral Features : Flowers bisexual and usually actinomorphic. Inflorescence is an axillary cyme or solitary. K is persistent and partly fused. A alternate with lobes of corolla and anthers connivent. Axile placentation. Ovary superior.

Fruit and Seed Features : Fruit is indehiscent berry or drupe, less common a capsule. Seeds with copious oily endosperm, usually proteinaceous; linear straight to curved embryo.

Vegetative Features : Habit is generally herbs, shrubs, trees and lianas. Leaves entire or variously dissected, simple and spirally arranged; stipules never present.