Write a note on solanaceae family.

$\rightarrow$ It is a large family, commonly called as the 'potato family'.

$\rightarrow$ Vegetative Characters: Plants mostly herbs, shrubs and small trees.

$\rightarrow$ Stem : Herbaceous rarely woody, aerial; erect, cylindrical, branched, solid or hollow, hairy or glabrous, underground stem in potato (Solanum tuberosum).

$\rightarrow$ Leaves : Alternate, simple, rarely pinnately compound, exstipulate; venation reticulate.

Floral Characters :

$\rightarrow$ Inflorescence : Solitary, axillary or cymose as in solanum.

$\rightarrow$ Flower : Bisexual, actinomorphic.

$\rightarrow$ Calyx : Sepals five, united, persistent, valvate aestivation.

$\rightarrow$ Corolla : Petals five, united; valvate aestivation.

$\rightarrow$ Androecium : Stamens five, epipetalous.

$\rightarrow$ Gynoecium : Bicarpellary, syncarpous; ovary superior, bilocular, placenta swollen with many ovules.

$\rightarrow$ Fruits : Berry or capsule.

$\rightarrow$ Seeds : Many, endospermous.