Solanum
Solanum
Solanum (pronunciation: /səˈleɪnəm/) is a large and diverse genus of flowering plants, which include two food crops of high economic importance, the potato and the tomato. It also contains the nightshades and horse nettles, as well as numerous plants cultivated for their ornamental flowers and fruit.
Etymology
The name Solanum comes from the Latin word 'solamen', meaning comfort, solace, or soothing, in reference to the soothing effects of some species when used medicinally.
Description
Solanum species show a wide range of growing habits, such as annual and perennials, vines, subshrubs, shrubs, and small trees. Many formerly independent genera like Lycopersicon (the tomatoes) or Cyphomandra are now included in Solanum as subgenera or sections. Thus, the genus today contains roughly 1,500-2,000 species.
Related Terms
- Solanaceae: The family to which Solanum belongs. It is characterized by plants that often have attractive fruit and are frequently poisonous.
- Solanine: A toxic glycoalkaloid found in species of the nightshade family within the genus Solanum.
- Solanum Tuberosum: The scientific name for the potato, a member of the Solanum genus.
- Solanum Lycopersicum: The scientific name for the tomato, another member of the Solanum genus.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Solanum
- Wikipedia's article - Solanum
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