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Solanaceae (potato, tomato, tobacco family) Life
> eukaryotes >
Archaeoplastida >
Chloroplastida
>
Charophyta > Streptophytina > Plantae (land plants)
> Tracheophyta (vascular plants) > Euphyllophyta > Lignophyta (woody plants)
> Spermatophyta (seed plants) > Angiospermae (flowering
plants) > Eudicotyledons > Core Eudicots > Asterids
> Euasterid I > Order: Solanales
There are about 90 genera and about 2600 species in this
family which includes important vegetables such as potato, brinjal, tomato and
peppers.
Genera native or naturalised (*) in southern Africa
| * Capsicum The 10 species are
native to tropical America. In southern Africa, Capsicum frutescens
has become naturalised in Swaziland and northern KwaZulu-Natal. The genus
includes sweet peppers, chilli peppers,
cayenne pepper and paprika, all varieties of the species
Capsicum annuum. |
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| * Cestrum
About 175 species, native to tropical America. Four species have become
naturalised in southern Africa where they can be toxic to livestock. |
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| * Datura
About 8 species, all native to the New World. Datura ferox (Large
thorn apple, Grootstinkblaar), Datura innoxia (Downy thorn
apple, Harige stinkblaar) and Datura stramonium (Common thorn
apple, Gewone stinkblaar) are
declared Category 1 invasive plants in South Africa. |
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| Lycium
About 100 species, found worldwide in warm and temperate regions, especially
the New World. There are about 16 species in southern Africa. |
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| * Nicandra One species: Nicandra
physalodes, native to Peru but has become naturalised in most warm
countries, including in southern Africa. |
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| Nicotiana
About 67 species, found mainly in the New World. Nicotiana africana
is the only indigenous species in southern Africa, endemic to Namibia. In
addition, there are 3 naturalised species in southern Africa. The genus
includes tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) which contains the toxic
alkaloid nicotine which, besides being addictive to people, is also used as
an insecticide. |
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| * Physalis
About 80 species, most of which are found in the New World. Seven species
have become naturalised in southern Africa. The genus includes the Cape
Gooseberry Physalis peruviana. |
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Solanum There are about
1400 species in this cosmopolitan genus, most of which are native to the
tropics. There are about 25 indigenous and 15 naturalised species in southern
Africa. The genus includes the Potato
Solanum tuberosum and the
Aubergine / Eggplant / Brinjal Solanum melongena. |
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| Withania
About 10 species, all native to the Old World. Withania
somnifera is the only species native to southern Africa. |
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Other genera, cultivated in southern Africa
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