Volunteer Park Conservatory - 1402 East Galer Street - Seattle, Washington 98112 - (206) 322-4112

Plant Family of the Month

Solanaceae

The Solanaceae family includes familiar vegetables like potato, tomato, eggplant and pepper; as well as beautiful flowers like nicotiana, petunia, datura, brugmansia, and solandra. Some plants have great medicinal value, some are quite poisonous (tobacco plants and deadly nightshade are also in this family).

World wide, there are 85 genera and 2300 species within the family. Thirteen genera are native to North America.

The calyx and corolla are 5-lobed, and usually there are 5 stamens. The fruit is partitioned into 2 or 4 seed-producing divisions, and may be dry or a fleshy berry. Most plants in this family have alternate leaves. Solanaceous plants in the Conservatory:

• Fern House: Brugmansia cultivars - “Angel’s Trumpets”
• Seasonal House: Ipomoea ‘Marguerite’ – “Sweet Potato Vine”