Solanales

Solanum_melongena_ja02

Solanales is an order of flowering plants in the class Magnoliopsida (dicotyledons). This order is part of the euasterids I group within the asterids clade. The order includes several well-known families, such as the Solanaceae (nightshade family), Convolvulaceae (morning glory family), Montiniaceae, Sphenocleaceae, and Hydroleaceae.

Families

The order Solanales comprises the following families:

• Solanaceae: This is the largest family in the order, including important agricultural crops like potato, tomato, eggplant, and capsicum (peppers), as well as ornamental plants like petunia and tobacco.
• Convolvulaceae: Known for species such as sweet potato and various morning glory species.
• Montiniaceae: A small family with only a few species, primarily found in Africa.
• Sphenocleaceae: Contains a single genus, Sphenoclea, with two species.
• Hydroleaceae: A small family with aquatic plants.

Characteristics

Plants in the order Solanales typically have the following characteristics:

• They are mostly herbaceous or woody plants.
• Leaves are usually simple and alternate.
• Flowers are often actinomorphic (radially symmetrical) and bisexual.
• The corolla is typically fused, forming a tube or funnel shape.
• The fruit can be a berry, capsule, or drupe.

Economic Importance

The Solanales order includes several economically important plants:

• Solanaceae: This family includes major food crops such as potato (Solanum tuberosum), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), and eggplant (Solanum melongena). It also includes plants with medicinal properties and those used for recreational purposes, such as tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum).
• Convolvulaceae: The sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) is a significant food crop, and various morning glory species are popular in horticulture.

Related Pages

• Solanaceae
• Convolvulaceae
• Magnoliopsida
• Asterids
• Flowering plants