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 A flowering Brugmansia x insignis
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Acnistus |
The Solanaceae is a family of flowering plants, many of which are edible, while others are poisonous (some have both edible and toxic parts). The Shoo-fly Plant ( Nicandra physaloides) also known as the Apple of Peru is an Annual plant native to Peru. Nicotiana refers to a Genus of Herbs and Shrubs of the Nightshade family ( Solanaceae) indigenous to Tobacco is an Agricultural product recognized as an addictive drug processed from the fresh Leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. Nierembergia is a genus of plants in the Nightshade family. Species Nierembergia rivularis Nolana ( Chilean Bell Flower) is a genus of hard annual or Perennial plants in the Nightshade family, which is native For Petunia Pig, a Looney Tunes character see Petunia Pig For Aunt Petunia see Aunt Petunia For Physalis is a Genus of Plants in the nightshade family ( Solanaceae) native to warm Temperate and Subtropical Physalis peruviana, commonly known as Physalis, is indigenous to South America, but was cultivated in South Africa in the region Physalis is a Genus of Plants in the nightshade family ( Solanaceae) native to warm Temperate and Subtropical The tomatillo ( Physalis philadelphica) is a Plant of the Solanaceae ( Nightshade) family bearing small spherical and green or Salpiglossis is a is a genus of the botanical family Solanaceae. Schizanthus (common names butterfly flower, fringeflower, poor-man's-orchid) is a Genus of plants in the Solanaceae Scopolia is a genus of five species of Flowering plants in the family Solanaceae, native to Europe and Asia. UserPolbot. --> Sessea is a genus of Plant in family Solanaceae. Solandra ( Chalice Vine) is a Genus of vines from the West Indies, Mexico and South America. The tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum, syn Lycopersicon lycopersicum) is a herbaceous usually sprawling plant in the Solanaceae or nightshade family The potato is a Starchy Tuberous crop Vegetable from the perennial Solanum tuberosum of the Solanaceae The eggplant, aubergine, or brinjal ( Solanum melongena) is a plant of the family Solanaceae (also known as the nightshades Streptosolen jamesonii, the marmalade bush, is an Evergreen Shrub of the Solanaceae family that produces loose clusters of flowers UserPolbot. --> Trianaea is a genus of Plant in family Solanaceae. UserPolbot. --> Withania is a genus of Plant in family Solanaceae. In Biological classification, family ( Latin The flowering plants or angiosperms ( Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta) are the most widespread group In the context of Biology, poisons are substances that can cause damage, Illness, or Death to Organisms usually by The name of the family comes from the Latin Solanum "the nightshade plant", but the further etymology of that word is unclear; it has been suggested it originates from the Latin verb solari, meaning "to soothe". Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. For English usage of verbs see the wiki article English verbs. This would presumably refer to alleged soothing pharmacological properties of some of the psychoactive species found in the family. Pharmacology (from Greek grc φάρμακον pharmakon, "drug" and grc -λογία -logia) is the study of how Drugs A psychoactive drug or psychotropic substance is a Chemical substance that acts primarily upon the Central nervous system where it alters Brain In Biology, a species is one of the basic units of Biological classification and a Taxonomic rank. It is more likely, however, that the name comes from the perceived resemblance that some of the flowers bear to the sun and its rays, and in fact a species of Solanum (Solanum nigrum) is known as the sunberry. Solanum nigrum ( European Black Nightshade or locally just " Black nightshade ", Duscle, Garden Nightshade,
The family is also informally known as the nightshade or potato family. The potato is a Starchy Tuberous crop Vegetable from the perennial Solanum tuberosum of the Solanaceae The family includes the Datura or Jimson weed, eggplant, mandrake, deadly nightshade or belladonna, capsicum (paprika, chili pepper), potato, tobacco, tomato, and petunia. Datura is a Genus of 12-15 species of vespertine Flowering plants belonging to the family Solanaceae. Jimsonjade, known by the Common names jimson weed, ditch weed, Good weed, loco weed, Korean morning glory The eggplant, aubergine, or brinjal ( Solanum melongena) is a plant of the family Solanaceae (also known as the nightshades Atropa belladonna or Atropa bella-donna, commonly known as belladonna or deadly nightshade, is a perennial Herbaceous Capsicum is a Genus of Plants from the nightshade family ( Solanaceae) native to the Americas, where it was cultivated for thousands Paprika is a spice made from the grinding of dried sweet red or green Bell peppers ( Capsicum annuum) The chili pepper, chilli pepper, or chili, is the fruit of the plants from the Genus Capsicum, which are members of the nightshade The potato is a Starchy Tuberous crop Vegetable from the perennial Solanum tuberosum of the Solanaceae Tobacco is an Agricultural product recognized as an addictive drug processed from the fresh Leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. The tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum, syn Lycopersicon lycopersicum) is a herbaceous usually sprawling plant in the Solanaceae or nightshade family For Petunia Pig, a Looney Tunes character see Petunia Pig For Aunt Petunia see Aunt Petunia For
The Solanaceae family is characteristically ethnobotanical, that is, extensively utilized by humans. Ethnobotany ( from " ethnology " - study of culture and " Botany " - study of plants) is the scientific study of the relationships It is an important source of food, spice and medicine. Food is any substance usually composed primarily of Carbohydrates Fats water and/or Proteins that can be eaten or drunk by an A spice is a dried Seed, Fruit, Root, Bark or vegetative substance used in Nutritionally insignificant quantities as a Food additive Medicine is the art and science of healing It encompasses a range of Health care practices evolved to maintain and restore Human Health by the However, Solanaceae species are often rich in alkaloids that can range in their toxicity to humans and animals from mildly irritating to fatal in small quantities. This article is about the chemical compounds alkaloids For the Pharmaceutical company in the Republic of Macedonia see Alkaloid (company. Toxicity is the degree to which a substance is able to damage an exposed organism
Flowers are typically conical or funnelform with five petals, usually fused. The leaves are alternate, often with a hairy or clammy surface. Solanaceous plants produce a fruit that is either a berry, as in the case of the tomato or wolfberry, or a dehiscent (breaks open upon drying, or dehiscing, releasing the seeds) capsule as in the case of Datura. The term fruit has different meanings dependent on context and the term is not synonymous in Food preparation and Biology. The word berry has two meanings one based on a botanical definition the other on common identification The tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum, syn Lycopersicon lycopersicum) is a herbaceous usually sprawling plant in the Solanaceae or nightshade family In Botany a capsule is a type of simple dry Fruit produced by many species of Flowering plants A capsule is a dehiscent structure composed of two The seeds are usually round and flat, being 2-4 millimeters in diameter. The stamens are usually present in multiples of four (most commonly four or eight). The stamen ( Plural stamina or stamens, from Latin stamen meaning "thread of the warp " is the male The ovaries are inferior. The hypogynus gynoecium is a syncarp located obliquely in relation to the median.
Contents |
Alkaloids
The Solanaceae are known for possessing a diverse range of alkaloids. This article is about the chemical compounds alkaloids For the Pharmaceutical company in the Republic of Macedonia see Alkaloid (company. As far as humans are concerned, these alkaloids can be desirable, toxic, or both, though they presumably evolved because they reduce the tendency of animals to eat the plants.
One of the most important groups of these compounds is called the tropane alkaloids. Tropane is a Nitrogenous Bicyclic Organic compound. It is mainly known for a group of Alkaloids derived from it (called Tropane alkaloids The term "tropane" comes from a genus in which they are found, Atropa (the belladonna genus). A genus (plural genera from Γένος Latin genus "descent family type gender" is a low-level Taxonomic Atropa ( Á-tro-pa) is a genus of plants in the Nightshade family The belladonna genus is so named after the Greek Fate, Atropos, who cut the thread of life. Greek mythology is the body of stories belonging to the ancient Greeks concerning their gods and Heroes the nature of the world and the origins and significance The Moirae or Moerae (in Greek – the " apportioners " often called the The Fates) in Greek mythology, were the white-robed In Greek mythology, Atropos (ˈætɹəˌpɑs (from Greek Άτροπος "without turn" was one of the three Moirae, Goddesses of This nomenclature betrays the toxicity and lethality that has long been known to be characteristic of these compounds.
Tropane alkaloids are also found in the Datura, Mandragora, and Brugmansia genera, as well as many others in the Solanaceae family. Datura is a Genus of 12-15 species of vespertine Flowering plants belonging to the family Solanaceae. Brugmansia is a genus of six species of Flowering plants in the family Solanaceae, native to subtropical regions of South America, along Chemically, the molecules of these compounds have a characteristic bicyclic structure and include atropine, scopolamine, and hyoscyamine. Atropine is a Tropane Alkaloid extracted from Deadly nightshade ( Atropa belladonna) Jimsonweed (Datura stramonium and other plants The fictional truth drug Hyoscine-pentothal does not describe real hyoscine accurately Hyoscyamine, pronounced hi-oh-SYE-uh-meen, is a chemical compound a Tropane alkaloid it is the levo- Isomer to Atropine. Pharmacologically, they are the most powerful known anticholinergics in existence, meaning they inhibit the neurological signals transmitted by the endogenous neurotransmitter, acetylcholine. An anticholinergic agent is a substance that blocks the Neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the central and the Peripheral nervous system. See Chemical synapse for an introduction to concepts and terminology used in this article The Chemical compound acetylcholine (often abbreviated ACh) is a Neurotransmitter in both the Peripheral nervous system (PNS and Central Symptoms of overdose may include mouth dryness, dilated pupils, ataxia, urinary retention, hallucinations, convulsions, coma, and death. A symptom' (from Greek σύμπτωμα, "accident misfortune that which befalls" from συμπίπτω, "I befall" from Xerostomia is the medical term for a dry mouth due to a lack of Saliva. "Dilated pupil" redirects here An Eye examination sometimes requires the dilation of the pupil Ataxia (from Greek α- as a negative prefix + -τάξις, meaning "lack of order" is a neurological sign and symptom consisting Urinary retention also known as ischuria is a lack of ability to Urinate. A hallucination, in the broadest sense is a Perception in the absence of a stimulus. An epileptic seizure is caused by excessive and/or hypersynchronous electrical Neuronal activity and is usually self-limiting In Medicine, a coma (from the Greek koma, meaning deep sleep is a profound state of Unconsciousness.
Despite the extreme toxicity of the tropanes, they are important drugs when administered in appropriate (and extremely small) dosages. They can reverse cholinergic poisoning, which can be caused by overexposure to pesticides and chemical warfare agents such as sarin and VX. A receptor is cholinergic if it uses Acetylcholine as its Neurotransmitter. A pesticide is a substance or mixture of substances used to kill a pest. Chemical warfare involves using the toxic properties of Chemical substances to kill injure or incapacitate an enemy. Sarin, also known by its NATO designation of GB, is an extremely toxic substance whose sole application is as a Nerve agent. VX (S--O-ethyl methylphosphonothioate is an extremely toxic substance whose sole application is as a Nerve agent. More commonly, they can halt many types of allergic reactions. Allergy is a disorder of the Immune system often also referred to as Atopy. Scopolamine, a commonly used ophthamological agent, dilates the pupils and thus facilitates examination of the interior of the eye. The fictional truth drug Hyoscine-pentothal does not describe real hyoscine accurately Ophthalmology is the branch of Medicine which deals with the diseases and surgery of the visual pathways including the Eye, Brain They can also be used as antiemetics in people prone to motion sickness or receiving chemotherapy. An anti-emetic is a drug that is effective against Vomiting and Nausea. Motion sickness or kinetosis is a condition in which a disagreement exists between visually perceived movement and the Vestibular system 's sense of movement Chemotherapy, in its most general sense refers to treatment of disease by chemicals that kill cells specifically those of micro-organisms or Cancer. Atropine has a stimulant effect on the central nervous system and heart, whereas scopolamine has a sedative effect. Stimulant drugs are Drugs that temporarily increase alertness and awareness In Vertebrates the central nervous system ( CNS) is the part of the Nervous system which is enclosed in the Meninges. A sedative, or more specifically a sedative-hypnotic, is a substance that depresses the Central nervous system (CNS resulting in calmness relaxation sleepiness
Nutritional importance
The most important species of this family for the global diet is the potato or Solanum tuberosum, whose carbohydrate-rich tubers have been a staple food in many times and places, and which is one of the most grown crops today. The potato is a Starchy Tuberous crop Vegetable from the perennial Solanum tuberosum of the Solanaceae The potato is a Starchy Tuberous crop Vegetable from the perennial Solanum tuberosum of the Solanaceae Carbohydrates (from ' Hydrates of Carbon ' or saccharides ( Greek σάκχαρον meaning " Sugar " are the most Tubers are various types of modified plant structures that are enlarged to store Nutrients They are used by Plants to overwinter and regrow the next year A staple food is a Food that forms the basis of a Traditional diet. In many genera, the fruits are the desirable item, for example, tomatoes, tomatillos, eggplants, uchuva, and peppers. The tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum, syn Lycopersicon lycopersicum) is a herbaceous usually sprawling plant in the Solanaceae or nightshade family The tomatillo ( Physalis philadelphica) is a Plant of the Solanaceae ( Nightshade) family bearing small spherical and green or The eggplant, aubergine, or brinjal ( Solanum melongena) is a plant of the family Solanaceae (also known as the nightshades Physalis peruviana, commonly known as Physalis, is indigenous to South America, but was cultivated in South Africa in the region Capsicum is a Genus of Plants from the nightshade family ( Solanaceae) native to the Americas, where it was cultivated for thousands
While very popular, some people experience sensitivity or allergy-like symptoms in response to nightshade plants. Allergy is a disorder of the Immune system often also referred to as Atopy.
External links
- Solanaceae in Topwalks
- SOL Genomics Network
- Solanaceae Network - pictures of plants
- Solanaceae Source - A worldwide taxonomic monograph of all species in the genus Solanum.
- Solanaceae in L. Watson and M.J. Dallwitz (1992 onwards). The families of flowering plants: descriptions, illustrations, identification, information retrieval. http://delta-intkey.com
- Solanaceae in USDA Plants Database.
- http://personal.denison.edu/~kuhlman/WOL/plants.html
See also
Additional reading
D'Arcy, William G. This is a list of Plants which are Poisonous to Equines. Some may cause mild reactions such as Diarrhea, others can lead to serious problems including (1986). Solanacea. Columbia University Press. ISBN 0-231-05780-6.
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