Solanaceae - The Nightshade Family

Identifying Characteristics:
Fused corolla/petals with the filaments of the stamens fused to the inside.
Superior ovaries, meaning that they sit just above the attachment points of the other parts of the flower.
Fruits produced are berries or capsules.
Alternating leaves; herbs, shrubs, trees, or vines.

Petunia dissection photos with labeled anatomy.

Well-known Family Members:
Tomatoes, potatoes, tobacco, petunias, deadly nightshade (belladonna), jimson weed (datura).

Clicking on any of the images will enlarge them in a separate tab.

The garden tomato, Solanum lycopersicum.  All parts of this plant are poisonous, except for the ripened fruit.

Bittersweet nightshade, Solanum dulcamara.  All parts of this plant are poisonous, including the ripened fruit.  These plants are shrubs that can be found growing amongst other plants in your yard.

Tobacco, Nicotiana.  All parts of this plant are poisonous.  These individual plants were photographed in Westbury Gardens, N.Y.