Order Solanales / Potatoes & Nightshade Flowers


    Order Solanales

    Solanales or the potato/nightshade order of the flowers belong to the core asterid clade, manifesting a global distribution. The plants of Solanales possess root stalks or tubers, simple, alternate, and exstipulateWhat is exstipulate?Without stipules; Stipule is a small structure of appendage found at the base of some leaf petioles. leaves, showy flowers, and typically 5-merous floral parts.

    The Solanales plants are monoeciousWhat is monoecious?Pertaining to plants, individuals of which bear both staminate and pistillate flowers, but not necessarily perfect flowers., andromonoeciousWhat is andromonoecious?A plant with staminate and perfect flowers, but missing pistillate flowers., or dioeciousWhat is dioecious?Pertaining to plants, individuals of which bear either staminate or pistillate flowers, but not both.. Example species under Solanales order involve the highly cultivated flora of Morning Glory, potato, eggplant, and tomato.

    Solanales Families

    Solanales Families

    The APG III classification system places Solanales under the eustarid I group. Solanales comprises 5 families, 165 genera, and 4080 species.

    • Solanaceae (Nightshade and potato family).
    • Convolvulaceae (Morning glory and sweet potato family).
    • Montiniaceae (Wild-clove family)
    • Sphenocleaceae (Gooseweed family)
    • Hydroleaceae (False fiddleleaf family).

    Solanales Distribution

    Solanales Distribution

    The majority of the largest family members, Solanaceae (over 100 genera and more than 3000 species[2] ), are distributed globally.

    • They are most abundant in Latin America’s tropical regions. Very few species are also found in temperate regions. It is most diverse in South America, Central America, and Mexico.
    • Convolvulaceae (also a large family) with 57 genera and more than 1, 600 species have an almost worldwide distribution.
    • Montiniaceae (3 genera and 5 species)[3] are found in Africa and Madagascar.
    • Hydroleaceae (1 genus and 12 species) are distributed in tropical regions.
    • Sphenocleaceae (1 genus and 2 species) prefers stagnant water and thrives in moist soil. They are distributed in Central Asia, the Indian continent, Southeast Asia, Sumatra, Java, and Timor to Southwest Sulawesi.

    Solanales Characteristics

    Solanales Characteristics

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    Cone-shaped Flowers

    Cone-Shaped Flowers

    Cone-shaped flowers are three-dimensional blooms that narrow evenly from the bottom to the apex of the flower to form a cone-shaped appearance. These conical flowers come in different colors ranging from trees to shrubs.

    Solanales Flowers and Reproduction

    Solanales Flowers and Reproduction

    Solanaceae have medium-sized and commonly actinomorphic flowers. They are fragrant, fetid (smelling extremely unpleasant), or inodorous.

    • They are in solitary or in cyme units. Most are hermaphrodites. Some plants are monoecious, andromonoecious, or dioecious. The pollination of the species under this order is entomophilousWhat is entomophilous?Pollination by insects. Contrast anemophilous (wind-pollination)..
    • Most of the members possess differentiated perianth, with usually 5 sepals and petals in the calyx and corolla. The stamens are usually existing in multiple of 4 or 5. Most species have 4 or 8 stamens; distinct, epipetalous.
    • The gynoecium of the flowers involves a single pistil with 2 carpels. The nightshade of the genus Solanum possesses 5 petals (fused) that are commonly white, yellow, or purple. The flowers are commonly in clusters.
    • Convolvulaceae flowers are actinomorphic and usually showy. The flowers are mostly solitary or in terminal or axillary dichasia. Most members are nearly always bisexual.
    • The species of this order are commonly 5-merous. There are typically 5 distinct sepals in the calyx. There are also 5 petals in the corolla; sympetalous. Often the corolla has inconspicuous lobes forming a trumpet shape.
    • The stamens in the androecium are also 5, often unequal. They alternate with the lobes and adnate to the corolla tube’s base. A single compound pistil with commonly 2 (rarely up to 5) is in the gynoecium.
    • The attractive and impressive flowers of the morning glories attract pollinators like bees, moths, other insects, and hummingbirds.

    Solanales Family Differences

    APG IV classification involves 5 families under Soliniales. Therefore, three families (with the most number of genera) are compared in this section.

    Solanales Family Differences

    Solanaceae

    • Members of this family are herbs, shrubs, trees, or lianas possessing internal phloem.
    • The leaves are usually simple, alternate, and exstipulate.
    • The flowers are usually actinomorphic and bisexual.
    • The perianth is 5-merous (5 sepals and 5 petals). The corolla is involute in aestivation.
    • The androecium also has 5 stamens. The gynoecium is syncarpousWhat is syncarpous?Flowering having united carpels; Contrast apocarpous. and bicarpellate.
    • The ovary is typically superior.
    • The fruit is a capsule, a drupe, or a berry.

    Convolvulaceae

    • The members of this family are typically detrorse-twining vines. A few members are shrubs or trees, commonly with internal phloem.
    • The leaves are usually simple (sometimes lobes to pinnatisect), alternate, and exstipulate.
    • The flowers are actinomorphic and primarily bisexual.
    • The calyx has 5 lobes, and the corolla has 5 petals. The corolla is sympetalous, infundibular. Aestivation is plicate (involute) or imbricateWhat is imbricate?Tooltip Content.
    • The stamen is usually 5; epipetalous. The gynoecium is syncarpous with often 2 carpels.
    • The ovary is superior.
    • The fruit is a capsule, berry, drupe, or nut.

    Montiniaceae

    • The plants in this family are shrubs, trees, and woody lianas.
    • The leaves of the plants are simple, alternate, or opposite.
    • The sexes are on separate plants (unisexual).
    • The male flowers have 3-5 sepals and 3-5 petals. The female flowers have 4-5 petals and 4-5 sepals. The corolla is imbricate, polypetalous, and deciduous.
    • The ovary is inferior.
    • The fruit is a capsule (indehiscent) or a drupe (fleshy).

    Solanales Example Species

    Solanales Example Species

    Members of this order involved the most highly cultivated flora. The following are the example plants under this order.

    • Common morning glory[4] – The plant has medicinal uses[5]. It is considered anthelmintic, diuretic, hallucinogenic, and laxative.
    • Potato[6] – This plant is a globally important crop. The food in the form of tubers is nutritious. It is usually used as a staple food, but it also has excellent medicinal value.
    • ‘White angels trumpet[7] – The attractive trumpet-shaped flowers make this plant of ornamental value. However, its escape from cultivation makes it an invasive weed.
    • Black nightshade[8] – The genotypes of S. nigrum with large fruits constitute a minor food crop. The shoots and the berries are consumed as vegetables and fruits. The plant is also consumed in traditional medicine. However, in most parts of the world, this species is considered a troublesome weed.
    • Hawaiin baby Woodrose[9] – The plant has an ornamental flower and foliage, making it suitable for landscaping. In addition, the leaves are used for traditional medicine.
    • Sweet potato[10] – This plant is a vegetable with high nutritional value. It is also considered a valuable medicinal food.
    • Wild-clove bush[11] – The plant is used for traditional medicine.
    • Gooseweed[12] – The young plants and the older plant’s tips are edible (vegetable) in Indonesia.
    • Ovate false fiddle leaf[13] – The plant is of ornamental value. It is usually planted in the pond, bog, and water garden.
    • Tomato[14] – The fruit is edible. It is considered the 2ndmost crucial vegetable crop in the world. The plant also possesses medicinal value[15].

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    Cite This Page

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    BioExplorer.net. (2024, March 28). Order Solanales / Potatoes & Nightshade Flowers. Bio Explorer. https://www.bioexplorer.net/order-solanales/.
    BioExplorer.net. "Order Solanales / Potatoes & Nightshade Flowers" Bio Explorer, 28 March 2024, https://www.bioexplorer.net/order-solanales/.
    BioExplorer.net. "Order Solanales / Potatoes & Nightshade Flowers" Bio Explorer, March 28 2024. https://www.bioexplorer.net/order-solanales/.
    Key References
    • [2]“Solanaceae – an overview | ScienceDirect Topics”. Accessed January 06, 2022. Link.
    • [3]“Family: Montiniaceae | PlantZAfrica”. Accessed January 06, 2022. Link.
    • [4]“Common Morning Glory, Ipomoea purpurea – Flowers – NatureGate”. Accessed January 06, 2022. Link.
    • [5]“Ipomoea purpurea Common Morning Glory, Tall morning-glory PFAF Plant Database”. Accessed January 06, 2022. Link.
    • [6]“Solanum Tuberosum – an overview | ScienceDirect Topics”. Accessed January 06, 2022. Link.
    • [7]“Brugmansia suaveolens (white angel’s trumpet)”. Accessed January 06, 2022. Link.
    • [8]“Solanum nigrum (black nightshade)”. Accessed January 06, 2022. Link.
    • [9]“NParks | Argyreia nervosa”. Accessed January 06, 2022. Link.
    • [10]“Ipomoea batatas (sweet potato)”. Accessed January 06, 2022. Link.
    • [11]“The wild clove-bush (Montinia caryophyllacea) and Dinter’s bush (Manuelopsis dinteri) – The Namibian”. Accessed January 06, 2022. Link.
    • [12]“Sphenoclea zeylanica – IRRI Rice Knowledge Bank”. Accessed January 06, 2022. Link.
    • [13]“Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center – The University of Texas at Austin”. Accessed January 06, 2022. Link.
    • [14]“Solanum Lycopersicum – an overview | ScienceDirect Topics”. Accessed January 06, 2022. Link.
    • [15]“Solanum lycopersicum Tomato, Garden Tomato PFAF Plant Database”. Accessed January 06, 2022. Link.

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