Solanaceae -- comments
Comments: Many important cultivated members including: tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum), potato (Solanum tuberosum), eggplant (Solanum melongena), peppers (Capsicum spp.), tobacco (Nicotiana), and petunias (Petunia).
Various members contain high contents of alkoloids and the name Nightshade probably derives from the potentially lethal side of these. Belladonna means “pretty lady” and women used to dose themselves with an extract of this plant to dilate their eyes and appear more desirable. Mandrake (Mandragon), nicotine (tobacco), and Jimson-weed (Datura) are all members of this family.