SASYA
Download App
Botanical Family · Solanales

Solanaceae

Nightshade/Tomato family

57 speciesOrder Solanales8+ well-known plants

The nightshade family — botanically important for tomato, potato, pepper, aubergine, and tobacco. Many produce alkaloids (solanine, nicotine, capsaicin) making them medicinally and toxicologically significant. Characterised by alternate leaves and star-shaped flowers with fused petals.

Browse all 57 species ↓
Representative SOLANACEAE specimen
Representative specimen · Solanaceae
Key pattern

Alternate leaves and solitary, 5-parted flowers ranging from funnel-shaped to flat and star-like, with the stamens attached to the petal tube.

A family of extremes — tomato, potato and brinjal for food, alongside some of the most alkaloid-rich, toxic plants known, such as Datura.

Identify the species

Which Solanaceae species is this?

Answer what you can see and narrow it down to a single Solanaceae species.

Click a node to trace its path · pinch or scroll to zoom · drag to pan
HabitWhat is the plant's growth form?
Climbing vine
Herb
Herbaceous
Shrub
Tree
Woody shrub or tree
Stem ArmatureDoes the stem or leaf midrib have spines or prickles?
Not sure / other
Spiny/prickly
Unarmed
Fruit TypeWhat kind of fruit or underground structure does it produce?
Berry
Legume
Papery-husked berry
Underground tuber
Fruit TypeWhat kind of fruit or underground structure does it produce?
Berry
Capsule
Not sure / other
Papery-husked berry
Smooth berry
Stem ArmatureDoes the stem or leaf midrib have spines or prickles?
Not sure / other
Spiny/prickly
Unarmed
Flower ShapeWhat shape is the flower?
Large trumpet (>10cm)
Tubular
Stem ArmatureDoes the stem or leaf midrib have spines or prickles?
Not sure / other
Spiny/prickly
Unarmed
Flower ShapeWhat shape is the flower?
Funnel-shaped
Tubular
Fruit ColorWhat color is the ripe fruit?
Green or yellow
Orange
Red
Fruit ColorWhat color is the ripe fruit?
Purple
Red
Flower ColorWhat color are the flowers?
Green
Not sure / other
Orange
Purple
White
White or purple
Yellow
Stem ArmatureDoes the stem or leaf midrib have spines or prickles?
Spiny/prickly
Unarmed
Fruit TypeWhat kind of fruit or underground structure does it produce?
Berry
Capsule
Not sure / other
Smooth berry
Fruit ColorWhat color is the ripe fruit?
Black
Green turning yellow
Not sure / other
Orange
Fruit TypeWhat kind of fruit or underground structure does it produce?
Berry
Not sure / other
Smooth berry
Smooth capsule
Stem ArmatureDoes the stem or leaf midrib have spines or prickles?
Not sure / other
Spiny/prickly
Unarmed

How to recognise the Solanaceae family

  • 01

    Alternate leaves, often malodorous

  • 02

    Star-shaped flower, 5 fused petals

  • 03

    Berry or capsule fruit; often alkaloid-rich

Family identification method

To check whether a plant belongs to Solanaceae, compare the leaf arrangement, leaf type, flower symmetry, fruit type, and one distinctive marker together. A single feature can mislead; the family pattern is the combination.

Learn the full family-identification method

Typical leaf characters

Characters typical of the family — individual species can vary.

Typical flower & fruit

Typical of the family — flowering plants only; species can vary.

Notable members

Angel's TrumpetBrugmansia suaveolensThe Lady Of The Night, Today & Tomarrow PlantBrunfelsia americanaYesterday Today And TomorrowBrunfelsia paucifloraChilly Plant, Red Peppers, Cayenne Pepper, Long Chilly, Sapnish PimentoCapsicum annuumBird's Eye ChillyCapsicum frutescensYellow Shrub JessamineCestrum aurantiacumDay JessamineCestrum diurnumNight Jessamine, Queen Of The Night, Lady Of The NightCestrum nocturnum

Families that can look similar

Convolvulaceae

Compare against Convolvulaceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.

Compare Convolvulaceae

Annonaceae

Compare against Annonaceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.

Compare Annonaceae

Flacourtiaceae

Compare against Flacourtiaceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.

Compare Flacourtiaceae

Sapotaceae

Compare against Sapotaceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.

Compare Sapotaceae

All 57 species in SOLANACEAE

Identify any Solanaceae plant in seconds

Point your camera and SASYA names the species on-device — offline and private.

Download SASYA — Free