Morphological studies on flowering plants (Solanaceae)

In the present study, the morphological features of 20 taxa of the family Solanaceae were studied. The Solanaceae, or nightshades, are an economically important family of flowering plants. The family ranges from herbs to trees, and includes a number of important agricultural crops, medicinal plants, spices, weeds, and ornamentals. Many members of the family contain potent alkaloids, and some are highly toxic, but many cultures eat nightshades, in some cases as staple foods. The present observation shows that majority of Solanaceae members almost the same morphological features that of the family. basis of phenotypic diversity and adaptation to natural and agricultural environments. peduncles long pediceles; Pedicellate, bisexual, hypogynous blue, large, actinomorphic. Calyx: 5, lobes ovate, acuminate, persistant, gamosepalous. Corolla: 5, lobes,large, lanceolate, blue 1.0 cm. long, 0.4 cm. braod gamopetalous. Androceium: 5 anthers, epipetalous, 0.8 long opening with terminal pore. Filaments short 0.4 cm long. Gynoecium: Bicarpellary, syncarpous, superior ovary with axile placentation. The ovary is obliquely oriented. terminal pore. Filaments short. Gynoecium: Bicarpellary, syncarpous, ovary axile placentation. ovary obliquely oriented.


INTRODUCTION
The Solanaceae, also called nightshades, comprise more than 3000 species many of which evolved in the Andean/Amazonian regions of South America in habitats that vary dramatically and include rain forests that receive more than 3 meters of rainfall annually to deserts with virtually no rainfall and high mountains with regular snowfall and subfreezing temperatures.
The center of diversity of the Solanaceae is near the equator and thus species were undisturbed by the ice ages and have had time to accumulate adaptive genetic variation for extreme ecological niches. The Solanaceae are also the third most important plant taxon economically and the most valuable in terms of vegetable crops, and are the most variable of crops species in terms of agricultural utility, as it includes the tuber-bearing potato, a number of fruit-bearing vegetables (Tomato, Eggplant, Peppers), ornamental plants (Petunias, Nicotiana), plants with edible leaves (Solanum aethiopicum, S. macrocarpon) and medicinal plants (eg. Datura, Capsicum).
Solanaceaous crops have been subjected to intensive human selection, allowing their use as models to study the evolutionary interface between plants and people. The ancient mode of Solanaceae evolution, coupled with an exceptionally high level of conservation of genome organization at the macro and micro levels make the family a model to explore the basis of phenotypic diversity and adaptation to natural and agricultural environments.
The Solanaceae include a number of commonly collected or cultivated species. Perhaps the most economically important genus of the family is Solanum, which contains the potato (Solanum tuberosum, in fact, another common name of the family is the "potato family"), the tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), and the aubergine or eggplant (Solanum melongena). Another important genus, Capsicum, produces both chili peppers and bell peppers.
The genus Physalis produces the so-called groundcherries, as well as the tomatillo (Physalis philadelphica), the Cape gooseberry and the Chinese lantern. The genus Lycium contains the boxthorns and the wolfberry Lycium barbarum. Nicotiana contains, among other species, the plant that produces tobacco. Some other important members of Solanaceae include a number of ornamental plants such as Petunia, Browallia and Lycianthes, the source of psychoactive alkaloids, Datura, Mandragora (mandrake), and Atropa belladonna (deadly nightshade). Certain species are universally known for their medicinal uses, their psychotropic effects, or for being poisonous.
With the exception of tobacco (Nicotianoideae) and petunia (Petunioideae), most of the economically important genera are contained in the subfamily Solanoideae. Finally, but not less importantly, the Solanaceae include many model organisms which are important in the investigation of fundamental biological questions at cellular, molecular, and genetic levels, such as tobacco and the petunia.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS
Generally, the family is herbaceous or woody. Since then there has been no additional anatomical work on the family in Nigeria.
The Solanaceous food can be often found in our stores as potatoes, tomatoes and chilli varieties, eggplant, and tomatillos. It was considered to be very valuable culinary vegetables. The vegetable is used in both urban and rural areas, but since it is often bitter it is mixed with Solanum species or with other green leafy vegetables. Many species of Solanaceae produce tropane alkaloids that have valuable medicinal properties. Examples include Datura stramonium, Datura fastuosa.
Nicotine is a tropane alkaloid. It makes a great insecticide. Example Nicotiana tobaccum. The family also includes many ornamental species which include Cestrum species; some others found as weeds. Examples include species of Solanum seaforthianum.
Potatoes contain toxic compounds known as glycoalkaloids, of which the most prevalent are solanine and chaconine. Solanine is found in other plants of the family Solanaceae, like the Black nightshade (Solanum nigrum), as well as the potato, eggplant, and tomato.
Among the immature vegetables, Solanum melongena and Solanum tuberosum, Capsicum frutescens, Capsicum annuum occupy a major area in cultivation in Tamilnadu. The fruit of Solanum melongena known for its low calories has a beneficial mineral composition for human health rich in source of Pottassium, Magnesium, Calcium and Iron Gbile and Adesina (1984). Unripe fruit of egg plant primarily used as cooking vegetable Guri et al., (1988) is grown as an annual crop. It has many medicinal values and its fruit helps to lower the blood cholesterol levels, and is suitable as a part of a diet to help regulate high blood pressure Goodspeed, (1933); Acosta et al., (2005).
The black nightshades family members are Solanum sisymbriifolium, Solanum seaforthianum, Solanum torvum, Solanum nigrum, Withania somnifera and related species are worldwide weeds of arable land, gardens, rubbish tips, soils rich in nitrogen, in moderately light and' warm situations which occur from sea to mundane levels. They are, however, also widely used as leafy herbs and vegetables, as a source of fruit and for various medicinal purposes.
Leaves and tender shoots are widely used and have provided a food source since early times, with Solanum trilobatum being recorded as an ancient famine plant Acosta et al., (2006) ;Guerra, (2000). The leaves and young shoots are boiled or stewed and used as a relish. They are also used in soups and sauces such as palaver.
Brugmansia arborea is grown in Hill station as an important ornamental plant for its long, white, pendulous and tubular flowers and is also found in a wild condition. Most of the plants like Solanum melongena, Solanum torvum, Solanum tuberosum, are grown for vegetables. Other plants like Solanum nigrum, Solanum trilobatum, Solanum xanthocarpum, and Withania somnifera are cultivated for medicinal value species.